NEWS | NH Industries NH90

RTM322 Engines Selected for the NH90

The Rolls-Royce / Turbomeca RTM322 engines have been selected to power up the twin-engine NH90 helicopters for Germany, France and the Netherlands





RTM322 Engines Selected for the NH90
Rolls-Royce, June 08, 2000 - LONDON, UK - Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines have been selected to power up to 399 twin-engine NH90 helicopters for Germany, France and Holland. This order will be worth around $1 billion dollars to the European joint-venture company over the life of the aircraft.

RTM322 engines will power up to 219 helicopters for Germany, 160 for France and 20 for Holland. The German total comprises 134 firm orders and 85 expected additional orders. Engine components will be manufactured in each country, with engines being finally assembled by Rolls-Royce Deutschland and by Turbomeca in France.

Jean Bernard Cocheteux, Chairman of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca and CEO of Turbomeca said: ``We are very pleased to have contributed to the success of the NH90 development programme over the last eight years -- and now to be at the heart of a world-class European helicopter production programme.''

Stuart Mullan, President, Helicopters for Rolls-Royce, and a Director of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca said: ``The RTM322 is the only engine family providing the performance, power growth and handling qualities needed by all medium-lift rotorcraft in the foreseeable future.''

Dr. Klaus Nittinger, Chairman of Rolls-Royce Deutschland, added: ``It is a particular point of pride to have won a challenging competition on merit, and to have been selected by two nations which have reputations for demanding and thorough procurement practices.''

NH90 is powered by two modern and versatile RTM322-01/9 turboshaft engines, providing outstanding performance particularly in ``hot and high'' climatic conditions. The engine also offers power growth potential for future, heavier versions of the aircraft.


Rolls-Royce Turbomeca is a 50/50 joint venture owned by Rolls-Royce plc and Turbomeca of France. Since its formation in 1966, it has developed and produced more than 2,600 Adour turbofan engines for the SEPECAT Jaguar, BAE SYSTEMS Hawk and Mitsubishi T2/F-1 fleets. In 1983, RRTM began development of the RTM322, which entered service with the Royal Navy in Merlin HM Mk1 in 1998 and the GKN Westland WAH-64 Apache in March 2000.

The RTM322-02/8 engine will enter service with the Royal Air Force Merlin HC Mk3 later this year. The aircraft has been in service since 1998. Two hundred production engines have been delivered and are in service on EH101 and WAH-64 Apache in the UK Royal Navy and Army. Opportunities exist for the engine and its growth variants both for these applications and new programmes.

Equipped with FADEC (Fully Automated Digital Engine control), which reduces power management responsibilities and workload for the pilot, the RTM322 increases mission effectiveness. The engine provides unmatched performance throughout its life, and excellent resistance to corrosion and erosion, which are key factor in NH90 missions. With its low repair and spares costs, life cycle costs remain well below those of any engines currently available.

Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands formed the Nato Helicopter Management Agency (NAEHMA) group in 1985 to oversee the design and development of a new naval and tactical transport helicopter, NH90.

The RTM322 was selected in 1992 to power the NH90 development fleet and has now been selected for the NH90's of Germany and France.


  See also


NH Industries NH90
Rolls-Royce RTM322
helicopter Helicopters Engines




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