PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTONDC
Rolls-Royce is looking to broaden the platform applications for the AE1107, RTM322 and T800 turboshafts through upgrading existing military rotorcraft, providing an alternate powerplant for new types and competing for emerging helicopter and unmanned air vehicle requirements.
R-R is targeting a number of key US Department of Defense programmes, including "intense lobbying" to sell the RTM322 to the US Army Special Operations Command for a planned Sikorsky MH-60K/L Black Hawk upgrade. Sikorsky has asked R-R and General Electric for improved powerplant options in the wake of recent high-altitude operations in Afghanistan.
An uprated -701D version of the incumbent General Electric T700 is already in development for the US Army's UH-60M upgrade, offering 4-6% more power. Sikorsky is also looking at the 1,900kW (2,500shp) CT7-8 engine, now on Sikorsky's S-92, for the MH-60K/L. Longer term, GE plans to team with Pratt & Whitney for the Common Engine Programme (CEP) to develop a 2,250kW turboshaft for future growth Black Hawks.
R-R says it has benchtested the RTM322 to over 2,250kW, but the engine falls short of the CEP's targeted fuel burn and payload/range performance. "The RTM322 can provide 75-80% of CEP capability at 25% of the investment," says Stuart Mullan, R-R North America president helicopters. R-R and Sikorsky are discussing offering the RTM322 on the S-92 for a number of US military requirements, including the replacement of US Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawks.
R-R is promoting the T800 - built jointly with Honeywell - as a future powerplant for the US Army's Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft, and as an alternative to the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-67C on the Agusta Bell AB139 helicopter. "Let's not launch a new engine programme, let's use something the DoD has already invested in," says Mullan.
R-R says there is renewed Italian army interest in the T800 for a planned upgrade of the Agusta-Westland A129CBT attack helicopter. The engine is offered on the A129I export variant, but the army had opted to retain the existing R-R Gem 1004. R-R continues to promote the AE1107 for a proposed re-engined Sikorsky CH-53E and possible growth Boeing CH-47X.
Source: Flight International
