BRITISH AEROSPACE is considering an alternative power plant to the BMW Rolls-Royce BR710 on its bid for the Royal Air Force's replacement maritime-patrol aircraft four months before a final decision is due to be made by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The company may offer the General Electric CF34-8C turbofan to power the upgraded Nimrod it is offering. It had been thought that BAe would exclusively offer the Anglo-German power plant (Flight International, 29 November - 5 December, 1995).
BAe says that it is "considering options", adding: "We have had some discussions with GE, but it is premature to say we're going with anything". The company confirms that its initial bid is based on re-engineing with BR710s, however.
BAe declines to discuss why it was examining an alternative power plant, although sources close to the programme suggest that the CF34 might require less structural modification to the wing box.
The CF34-8C is being developed to power the Bombardier Canadair CRJ-X regional jet.
Source: Flight International