Rolls-Royce has asked Kawasaki Heavy Industries to join its planned new Trent 900 engine programme to power the proposed Boeing 747-500/600X growth aircraft. The Japanese manufacturer maintains a close re- lationship with R-R and has a 3% risk-and-revenue sharing interest in existing Trent 700/800 engines. Snecma, a partner with General Electric in the CFM International consortium and on some GE programmes, including the GE90, is understood to have discussed participation on the Trent 900. It is also a potential partner on the GE/Pratt & Whitney JV programme.
Source: Flight International
