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The Rolls-Royce Turbomeca (RRTM) RTM322 engine has been selected by the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) to power its new fleet of twin-engine NH90 multi-role helicopters. The RAFO has ordered 20 Tactical Troop Lift (TTH) variants of the NH90 aircraft.
With this order, RAFO becomes the ninth NH90 customer to select the RTM322 and will benefit from the 2,500-2,600 shp class upgraded version of the engine. Oman joins the family of RTM322 NH90 users whose countries consist of Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.
Emeric d’Arcimoles, Chairman of RRTM and Chairman and CEO of Turbomeca, said: “This selection clearly demonstrates that NH90 customers favor a new engine, constructed from modern materials, that is at the beginning of its lifecycle and one that has a very clear growth path for the future.
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John Boughton, Marketing and Sales Director Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, added “The RTM322 is the lead engine on the NH90 and is particularly suited to its operation in harsh desert environments where extremes of temperature and dust are often linked to operations in high humidity. Set against these capability requirements, the RTM322 was the preferred option for the RAFO.”
The RTM322, selected by 90 per cent of NH90 customers to date, has flown in all five of the prototype versions of the NH90 aircraft, and also powers the first production aircraft. RTM322 module and engine assembly lines have been established in Finland, France, Germany, Norway and the UK to meet the needs of the broad NH90 customer base.
The RTM322 has also been selected for approximately 75 per cent of EH101 orders, the latest customer being the Japan Defense Agency.
The RTM322’s combination of reliability, power and growth potential have been significant factors in its success across a range of aircraft. Approximately 1,500 RTM322 engines, including orders and options, have been announced for NH90, WAH-64 Apache and EH101 helicopters.
This latest order follows the recent award of civil type certification for the newest model of the RTM322 range - the 2,428 shp 01/9 engine, which introduces an increased-flow compressor and represents the next generation of the highly successful design.
The RTM322 is also being offered for a number of additional applications, including the Sikorsky MH-60 Black Hawk fleet operated by the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Command. |
