Israel's Bet Shemesh Engines is seeking more risk- and revenue-sharing deals after becoming a partner in the Pratt &Whitney Canada PW307A engine programme for the Dassault Falcon 7X business jet.
Bet Shemesh has acquired a 2.2%stake in the PW307A from Germany's MTUAero Engines, which originally held 15%.
Avner Shacham, president of Bet Shemesh, says it will manufacture blades and disks for the engine's low-pressure turbine. "We joined this programme very late, so we will only manufacture the parts. In the future, we will strive to be involved in the development phase."
The company's involvement in the PW307 programme will cost it about $10 million. Some of the money was paid to MTU for its shareholding and the rest will be invested in special tooling.
The Falcon 7X is scheduled for certification in 2006 and Shacham says Bet Shemesh Engines expects revenues of about $100 million from the partnership over the next 35 years.
The Israeli engine manufacturer is already negotiating involvement in other risk- and revenue-sharing programmes. To increase its competitiveness, Bet Shemesh recently bought a casting facility in Serbia established by Rolls-Royce and sold to the Israeli company by the Serbian government.
Source: Flight International
