Three-part agreement includes purchase by India of "several hundred" engines for the Dhruv light helicopter
Turbomeca has signed its single largest engine order with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) as part of a contract that includes a co-development deal.
French manufacturer Snecma's helicopter engine subsidiary will deliver "several hundred" each of the TM333-2B2and its higher- power successor, the Ardiden, to be co-developed with India.
Emeric d'Arcimoles, Turbomeca president, says the three-part deal constitutes the company's "biggest ever single order" in unit terms and dollar value.
HAL will have a "substantial share" of development work on the new 900kW (1,200shp) Ardiden 1H Shakti turboshaft used to power the second-generation HAL Dhruv advanced light helicopter (Flight International, 2-8 July 2002). HAL will also supply around one-tenth of the components for the Ardiden 1A variant to be used in Western-built 6,000-6,500kg-class (13,200-14,300lb) class helicopters, such as the Bell-Agusta Aerospace AB139.
Deliveries against Turbomeca's existing order for 82 TM333-2B2s are almost complete, says d'Arcimoles, and the first engines from last week's order for more than 400 units will be delivered from early next year, he adds. An order for "several hundred additional" Shaktis is expected after the completion of the development phase in around 2006, according to François Courtot, Turbomecavice-president aero engines.
HAL is also to become a regional Turbomeca authorised maintenance centre and the pair will jointly market the Dhruv in surrounding countries. D'Arcimoles says that the joint development is "a way to recognise the high skill level at HAL". Turbomeca was "confident from day one" that the initial order for 82 engines would be followed by such a joint development phase, says Courtot.
The Ardiden, which is derated to 1,070kW, was developed to provide a higher power replacement for the TM333, which has powered the Dhruv since 1992, and which is also derated (from 800kW to 765kW) to suit "hot and high" operations in India.
HAL has unveiled a new variant of the Dhruv advanced light helicopter family. The 5,500kg Light Combat Helicopter has a narrow fuselage with pilot and co-pilot/gunner in tandem configuration and is to be equipped with light armament including air-to-air missiles. The helicopter, which will include stealth features and crashworthy landing gear, will begin testing by the end of next year and has the "firm commitment" of the Indian air force, says S Krishnaswamy, head of India's armed forces.Source: Flight International
