Andrew Doyle/MUNICH
Airbus Military Company (AMC) has accepted a joint A400Mengine bid from six European manufacturers in a move which ends a long-running wrangle over workshare.
The four-engined airlifter, due to enter service in 2007, will be powered by the TP400 turboprop to be developed and produced by FiatAvio, ITP, MTU, Rolls-Royce (R-R), Snecma and Techspace Aero. A German-registered management company is being set up in Munich.
AMC had earlier received separate bids from R-Rand the Snecma/MTU-led Turboprop International consortium, but the engine makers came under political pressure to combine their bids to ensure all of the principal customer nations would participate in the powerplant work.
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the UK have indicated their intention to buy 225 A400Ms and AMC hopes to conclude firm contracts with the nations in time for an industrial launch at the Paris air show in June. The joint purchase would require 1,000 production engines, including spares.
Under a memorandum of agreement, the TP400 will be a 7,450-9,760kW(10,000-13,000shp) three-shaft design based on the core of Snecma's M88 fighter engine and the architecture of R-R's commercial Trent family. The first engine run is planned 24 months after final contract signing.
MTU will perform final assembly. R-R will produce the low-pressure compressor (LPC) and handle overall integration, while Snecma will supply the high-pressure compressor (HPC), turbine (HPT)and combustion chamber and MTU the intermediate-pressure (IPT) and low-pressure (LPT) turbines. Each will take a 24.8%share in the programme.
ITP, with a 13.6% stake, will be responsible for engine casings and dressings, while FiatAvio has 8%and responsibility for the propellor gearbox and Belgium's Techspace Aero takes 4% and will manufacture engine accessories. The consortium says the workshare figures remain "provisional" pending a final agreement. Turkish companies will be invited to participate.
In a joint statement, the six manufacturers say agreement on the TP400 represents "a significant step forward in the consolidation of European aeroengine co-operation" and will be "the only truly European engine ever designed".
AMC president Alain Flourens says the TP400 "fully meets the required specification" and is "the best possible engine technically and commercially".
Source: Flight International
