Snecma is in talks with Rolls-Royce on taking up to a 10% workshare stake in the latter's new Trent 500. The engine has been selected for the Airbus Industrie A340-500 and -600.
R-R chief executive John Rose confirms that negotiations began at the show following the formal announcement of the engine decision by Airbus.
The confirmation of talks comes only days after news of a move by the French armaments directorate DGA to increase co-operation between France and the UK on research into advanced military engines (Flight International, 18-24 June). The two companies are already involved in the Anglo-French AMET (Advanced Military/ Engine Technology) programme, but speculation is growing that negotiations over the Trent could be a precursor to the formation of a wider joint-venture enterprise.
Neither R-R or Snecma has commented directly.
Rose, meanwhile, adds that Snecma's potential involvement in the Trent 500 could "naturally lead" to risk and revenue work for the French company in other members of the expanding Trent family, even though Snecma is a risk-sharing partner in the rival General Electric GE90.
Source: Flight International
