Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is close to signing a deal with LHTEC, the Allied Signal/Allison engine joint venture, to supply its CTS800 turboshaft to power the prototype of HAL's civil Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
Work is expected to get under way early in 1997, in what will be a near-repeat of LHTEC's development of the naval variant, where three engines were supplied free and technical support supplied.
The engines will be in the form of an improved CTS800 with an integrated gearbox. HAL has yet to fly a civil version of the helicopter, but expects to have the aircraft flying in 1997, with certification in 1998. The prototype navy version of the twin-engined ALH has been flown in around 75h of tests.
HAL and LHTEC say that the tests have been successful - although the Indian company admits that it has to modify the design of the gearbox of the naval version to enable it to handle the extra power of the CTS800 compared to the Turboméca TM333-2B-powered utility version.
While LHTEC and HAL prepare to sign a civil deal, European engine maker MTR has made a late bid to power the naval ALH programme with its MTR 390.
Programme officials from the MTU, Turboméca and Rolls-Royce venture were in New Delhi in November, trying to interest India in the engine, originally developed for the Eurocopter Tiger. HAL appears to view MTR's move as a diversion at this stage.
MTR deputy managing director Bernard Lory acknowledges that it had been slow to mount a challenge, but points out that the MTR engines could be made available quickly. The engine is being prepared to add civil certification to its military approval, and engines could be extracted from the test programme for the ALH. Changes to the MTR 390 for installation in the ALH would be minimal, says Lory. No decision on an engine for any of the production versions has been made.
Source: Flight International
