French powerplant maker Turbomeca has launched a new light helicopter turboshaft engine, dubbed the Ardiden. The 895kW (1,200shp) turboshaft has already been chosen to power the new Hindustan Aeronautics Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The manufacturer - part of the Snecma group - already provides an engine for the ALH. The unit consists of two centrifugal compressor stages driven by a single high-pressure turbine, and a two-stage turbine powering the driveshaft, and features a dual-channel full-authority digital engine control. Certification is set for 2005. Its predecessors, lower down the power band, include the Arriel and Arrius.
Source: Flight International
