During the Farnborough Airshow, Rolls-Royce Turbomeca announce that the RTM322 has achieved a significant milestone, logging 100,000 flight hours powering the UK Army Air Corps’ fleet of AgustaWestland Apache helicopters.

The landmark comes almost exactly ten years after the RTM322 was fitted to the Apache for trials.  Over 20,000 of these flight hours have been accumulated in the harsh environment of desert operations.

Squadron Leader Jim Press, the project lead for RTM322 within UK MOD said:
“The RTM322 is supporting the Apache in delivering an extremely capable effect in the Gulf region, through both its performance and reliability.  This has been achieved due to the hard work and dedication of both industry and UK MOD staffs, focussed on delivering a quality product to the front-line.”

RTM322

John Boughton, Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Board member and Rolls-Royce Director of Customer Business – Defence Aerospace, said:
“This is an important milestone for the RTM322.The customer feedback shows that we have an engine which performs well in a harsh operating environment and we are now able to offer customers even more power through a growth version of the engine that is now available for the NH 90 and EH101 helicopters.’

The Apache helicopter has been a pivotal battle-winning air platform for British Forces deployed overseas, supporting British soldiers on the ground and giving essential cover to Chinook and Sea King helicopters in the air.  The altitude and heat of the desert has proven to be a very testing environment for the RTM322, but has performed superbly. 

The achievements to date of the RTM322 project have been a result of close working relationship between industry and the UK Ministry of Defence.

The Apache, powered by two RTM322 turboshaft engines, entered into service with the Army Air Corps in January 2001. Initial operating capability was achieved in October 2004 and, in May 2005, the first of three Army Air Corps regiments of 18 helicopters was declared fully operational. The other two regiments are expected to be fully operational by 2010.

Rolls-Royce Turbomeca has a long history of partnership with the UK MoD. The RTM322 also powers the Merlin helicopter fleet in service with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, while the Adour turbofan powered the Jaguar aircraft and in its latest variant, the Mk951, is about to enter service in the new Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer.  
Approximately 1,600 RTM322 engines, including orders and options, have been announced for the Apache, EH101 and NH90 helicopters.

Notes to editors
·Rolls-Royce Turbomeca is Europe’s longest-running aerospace joint venture Co-operation between Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca began in May 1965, with the agreement between the British and French governments to build the Jaguar fighter / trainer aircraft. Six months later, the partnership was selected to develop and supply the Adour engine for the Jaguar.

·The RTM322 project is supported from Rolls-Royce Bristol, with Repair & Overhaul facilities at Rolls-Royce Ansty, Rolls-Royce East Kilbride and the Turbomeca site in Tarnos, France.  The UK MOD repair centre is based at the Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, Cornwall. The dual-channel Electronic Engine Control Unit (EECU) is produced by Goodrich Engine Control Systems Ltd and complements the power and responsiveness of the engine for the Apache and its crews.

·The RTM322 is fitted to a total of 67 Apache helicopters.  The Main Operating base is at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, with the training of operational crews being carried out at Middle Wallop, Hampshire.  Recent trials have been conducted in order to allow the Apache to deploy onto ships of the Royal Navy.

·Three other variants of the RTM322 are in service with the UK MOD and are installed on the Merlin Mk1 (Royal Navy), Mk3 and Mk3a (Royal Air Force) aircraft.  These aircraft also supporting current operations in Iraq and the Arabian Gulf in support of British Forces.

For more information, please contact:
Nick Britton
Rolls-Royce
Phone: +44 117 979 5943
email: nick.britton@rolls-royce.com

Bettina Frey
Turbomeca
Phone: +33 559 12 5569
email: bettina.frey@turbomeca.fr