AerCap Selects Pratt & Whitney GTF™ Engines for 80 Airbus A320neo Family Aircraft

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, today announced the company has booked more than 800 orders and commitments for GTF engines since the beginning of 2021. Customers that have selected GTF-powered aircraft include Frontier Airlines, Volaris, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and, most recently, AerCap.

“GTF-powered aircraft are helping to lead the recovery around the world, while delivering unmatched fuel efficiency and world-class reliability to our customers,” said Rick Deurloo, chief commercial officer and senior vice president at Pratt & Whitney. “We’re the only engine maker with a geared fan in service today, and we’re also leading the industry with the lowest carbon emissions for single-aisle aircraft. We’re pleased with our orders to date and look forward to continuing this momentum throughout the year.”

AerCap, the global leader in aircraft leasing, is the world’s largest A320neo family lessor with over 300 owned, managed and on-order aircraft. AerCap recently selected Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines to power 80 additional Airbus A320neo and A321neo model aircraft. Deliveries of these aircraft are currently scheduled between 2021 and 2027.

“We are committed to providing our airline customers with the most fuel-efficient, advanced technology aircraft in the world, helping them to meet their sustainable goals in a profitable way,” said Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap. “We look forward to enhancing our fleet with these GTF engines and working with the team at Pratt & Whitney as the aircraft deliver.”

AerCap has placed GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft with airlines such as Spirit Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines. The lessor previously purchased hundreds of Pratt & Whitney-powered aircraft, including sizable fleets of Airbus A330 and A320ceo family aircraft; Boeing 777, 767 and 757 aircraft; and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft dating back to AerCap’s roots as ILFC in the 1980s.

“AerCap has been a long-time customer of Pratt & Whitney, and we’re pleased with their ongoing commitment to the GTF engine,” said Deurloo. “These GTF-powered aircraft will deliver economic and environmental value to AerCap and their customers, and we look forward to supporting this new fleet.”

Since entering service in early 2016, the GTF engine family has delivered on its promised ability to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions by up to 20 percent, reduce the noise footprint by 75 percent, and reduce regulated emissions by 50 percent to the CAEP/6 regulatory standard. The engine’s unique geared fan is the right architecture for the future with a long runway for further development. Pratt & Whitney is committed to continuing to invest in evolving propulsion systems to power the next generation of commercial aircraft.

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities and performance. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production support, performance and realization of the anticipated benefits of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in Raytheon Technologies Corporation’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

+1 (860) 565-9600
media@prattwhitney.com

Source: Pratt & Whitney

SITA, the global IT provider for the air transport industry, today announced the acquisition of Safety Line S.A.S., the Paris based start-up specializing in digital solutions for aviation safety and efficiency.

This acquisition will strengthen SITA’s Digital Day of Operations portfolio, helping airlines drive more efficiencies and fuel savings around the aircraft while taking immediate and sustainable steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

With air transport accounting for about 3% of the worldwide carbon emissions, there is growing pressure on airlines to reduce their overall emissions. At the same time the COVID-19 pandemic requires airlines to make their aircraft operations leaner, in particular reducing costly fuel burn. Safety Line has successfully applied predictive analytics to deliver significant improvements to aircraft operations, strongly complementing SITA’s existing portfolio. With this acquisition, SITA will accelerate the development of sustainable solutions that can be integrated with its existing suite of airline and airport solutions.

Reducing aircraft CO₂ emissions in-flight and at airports

The acquisition comes as a logical follow-up to the commercial partnership signed between the two companies in September 2020, focused on helping airlines reduce their CO₂ emissions with OptiFlight, the only predictive in-flight fuel efficiency solution leveraging machine learning performance models for each aircraft to optimize all flight phases including climb-out, cruise and descent. OptiFlight is already fully integrated with existing applications in SITA’s Digital Day of Operations portfolio, and current joint customers include Air France, Transavia Airlines, Aerologic and Condor.

On the ground, Safety Line’s AirsideWatch will allow SITA to expand its airports offering to airside operations, using surface movement radar data to better understand, analyze and optimize the ground traffic of aircraft between gates and runways with an aim to reduce unnecessary emissions.

Using data to improve safety and risk management

With safety being a key pillar in aviation alongside efficiency, the acquisition also covers SafetyCube, a solution that enables aviation stakeholders to pro-actively manage their safety and compliance. Key customers include large airports such as Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly or OEMs such as Airbus Helicopters, as well as airlines and ATM providers, all of which also compose SITA’s main customer base. SITA will, therefore, be able to expand its offering to include safety-enhancing services to existing customers.

Co-Innovating with airline and airport customers

Sébastien Fabre, CEO of SITA FOR AIRCRAFT said: “We were impressed with the way Safety Line have been able to transform the research from their data science team into real-life applications thanks to innovation partnerships with strategic airline customers such as  Transavia or Air France or airports such as Group ADP. Through our existing partnership, we have already delivered real value to our customers and this acquisition fits perfectly with SITA’s approach of partnering and co-innovating with our customers to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. We are excited to welcome the Safety Line team to SITA.”

Pierre Jouniaux, Founder & CEO of Safety Line said: ‘We are delighted to join the SITA family, which should accelerate the global growth of our innovative solutions, for the benefit of more efficient and greener aviation operations.”

Source: SITA

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., July 12, 2021 – Pratt & Whitney, a division of Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE: RTX), today announced that Porter Airlines has placed an order for 30 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, exclusively powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines. Pratt & Whitney will also provide Porter Airlines with engine maintenance through an EngineWise® Comprehensive service agreement. The aircraft are expected to enter into service beginning in the second half of 2022.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome the first jet-powered aircraft to our fleet,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO for Porter Airlines. “The combination of Embraer’s newest aircraft and Pratt & Whitney’s game-changing GTF engine technology will deliver quiet flights for our passengers and low fuel burn and emissions for our environment. We look forward to flying this aircraft for years to come.”

Porter Airlines currently operates a fleet of de Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft powered by PW150A turboprop engines, which is the most advanced turboprop engine currently in service, producing nearly twice the take-off power of older turboprop engines, with significantly improved fuel-efficiency.

“We are honored to extend our relationship with Porter Airlines and aid their entry into jet-powered aircraft,” said Rick Deurloo, chief commercial officer and senior vice president at Pratt & Whitney. “These GTF-powered aircraft will bring economic and environmental value to Porter Airlines and their customers, and we look forward to supporting their new fleet.”

The E195-E2 aircraft has more than 24% reduction in fuel burn per seat than the previous-generation E195, with NOx emissions 50% below the ICAO CAEP/6 regulation and 19dB to 20dB of ICAO Chapter 4 cumulative noise margin.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., July 12, 2021 – Pratt & Whitney, a Raytheon Technologies business (NYSE: RTX), today announced that the International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500® engine has surpassed 250 million engine flight hours of operational experience. Currently powering more than 3,000 aircraft and serving more than 200 customers, the V2500 engine operates passenger, cargo, and military missions around the world. The engine has powered the Airbus A320ceo family for decades and is now also the powerplant for the first A321 passenger-to-cargo conversion, as well as for the Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft.

“We built JetBlue on the V2500-powered A320 family,” said Colin Donohoe, director of heavy maintenance, JetBlue Airways. “With 192 such aircraft in our fleet today, we’ve seen firsthand how reliable and efficient these engines are. With the maintenance agreement to which JetBlue and IAE agreed in 2020, the V2500 will remain a mainstay of our fleet for years to come.”

The V2500 engine is offered through IAE, a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines.

“This milestone is a testament to the V2500’s legacy of reliability and performance,” said Earl Exum, president, International Aero Engines AG. “The V2500 engine delivers lower noise and a fuel advantage of about 3% for the A320ceo family aircraft, resulting in significant cost savings, lower emissions and a payload-range benefit which makes it ideal across a range of applications. The V2500 engine is in the prime of its life, and we are committed to supporting our customers through the recovery and into the future.”

Pratt & Whitney and IAE have been enhancing services for the V2500 engine, including LLP solutions, new and serviceable material programs, engine swaps and more, which can be tailored to support customers’ unique requirements. The V2500 engine is backed by 18 established facilities around the world that provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, including nine IAE party company facilities.

Visit www.prattwhitney.com/v2500 for more information on the V2500 engine.

Source: Pratt & Whitney

Dreieich, 6th July 2021. Hahn Air announced the appointment of Christoph Althoff as Vice President Airline Business. The industry professional joined the Hahn Air team on 1^st July and will be in charge of an international team of experts managing the partnerships with Hahn Air’s more than 350 partner airlines worldwide as well as acquiring and implementing new partner carriers. Christoph Althoff is taking over from Steve Knackstedt who has been in this role for more than 13 years and who will retire at the end of 2021.

Christoph Althoff studied in Germany, Argentina and the US, and holds a degree in International Relations & Economics. He started his career as a strategic consultant for telecom companies across Europe. In the past 17 years, he has been working for major travel industry players such as PROS Holding and Amadeus where he successfully developed data-driven and customer-centric sales strategies for airlines and other travel-related clients. An expert in digital retailing channels, he acquired a proven track record of building and leading sales and account management teams in charge of optimising airline revenues. He has been living in Madrid, Spain, for more than 20 years and speaks German, English and Spanish.

Christoph Althoff comments: “When I was with Amadeus and PROS, I already worked closely with Hahn Air. It was impressive to witness the speed, professionality and enthusiasm of the Hahn Air colleagues and I am very much looking forward to be part of the team and to enable the partner airlines to optimise their revenue with Hahn Air’s distribution solutions.”

Steve Knackstedt joined Hahn Air in 2007 after 28 years in various senior operations and sales positions with Continental Airlines and as a consultant for Cologne-Bonn Airport. Together with his team, he has enabled the Hahn Air partner airlines to optimise their indirect distribution strategy with products such as HR-169, H1-Air, X1-Air, HR-EMD and HR-Corporate.

“We are very pleased to welcome Christoph in our team”, said Alexander Proschka, Executive Vice President Commercial at Hahn Air. “We are convinced that our teams and partners will benefit of his industry knowledge and leadership skills as well as his expertise in forward-looking technologies and sales strategy. At the same time, we would like to thank Steve for his loyalty and commitment during the past 13 years. He has been instrumental in building one of the largest interline networks in the world and has facilitated the growth of the Hahn Air distribution solutions.”

For more information about Hahn Air, visit www.hahnair.com.

Source: Hahn Air

Dallas, June 30^th, 2021 – MTU Maintenance, global market leader in customized aero engine solutions, launches ON-SITE^Plus, a larger group of on-site, near-wing and quick-turn services. This development and rebranding of the portfolio underscores the importance of on-site and near wing activities as a means to reduce maintenance cost and extend on-wing times – a trend that has been particularly prevalent during the COVID-19 crisis and is expected to continue as the industry recovers post-pandemic.

MTU Maintenance’s growing ON-SITE^Plusteam carries out AOG support, on and near-wing repairs from borescope inspections to module swaps as well as hospital shop visits for the largest engine portfolio worldwide, including the popular CF6, CF34, CFM56, GE90, LEAP, and V2500 engines. The company has six on-site facilities across the globe and over 120 authority approvals.

“We intelligently customize solutions from all services in our broad portfolio to ensure continued and reliable operations,” says Martin Friis-Petersen, Senior Vice President MRO Programs, MTU Aero Engines. “Wherever possible we repair on or near-wing and to the highest MTU standards. In doing so, we minimize disruption, reduce overall cost and complexity, as well as maximize engine usage for our customers. We see great demand for such services in the future and as such, will continue to invest in this business area in coming years.”

Its largest ON-SITE^Plus facility MTU Maintenance Dallas, which can dispatch teams to customers or provide workscopes up to hospital shop visits, has recently expanded its available dock space by 40,000 square feet to provide short and long-term engine storage to support customer needs. MTU Maintenance Dallas is an MTU center of excellence for on-site and quick turn repairs for CF34, CF6, CFM56, GE90, V2500, PW2000 and PW4000 engines on the American continent.

“The ‘plus’ in ON-SITE^Plus symbolizes not only the wide range of our services and additional support, but also our credo ‘customer first better every day’ in which we are dedicated to going above and beyond and always delivering more,” adds Arne Straatmann, Director of On-Site Services, MTU Maintenance. “Time is of the essence when it comes to such services, and we provide smart customized service packages that encompass various aspects of the MTU portfolio to increase the speed of our response. These include for instance, material solutions from our own supply in AOG situations or spare engines to ensure continued operations during repair.”

With over 30 engines in its portfolio, MTU Maintenance has completed over 20,000 shop visits in 40 years. The company combines this engineering expertise with in-depth market understanding and robust financial strength to create the best solutions for customers. MTU Maintenance has facilities in the Americas, Asia and Europe and employees over 5,800 engine experts from over 60 different nationalities.

Source: MTU Maintenance

16 June 2021

Rolls-Royce is entering new aviation markets to pioneer sustainable power and as part of that mission we will be developing energy storage systems (ESS) that will enable aircraft to undertake zero emissions flights of over 100 miles on a single charge. In order to deliver this ground-breaking technology, we are planning an £80m investment in ESS over the next decade, that will create around 300 jobs by 2030 and strengthen our position as the leading supplier of all-electric and hybrid-electric power and propulsion systems for aviation.

Aerospace-certified ESS solutions from Rolls-Royce will power electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing) in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market and fixed-wing aircraft, with up to 19 seats, in the commuter market. By 2035, Rolls-Royce is planning to integrate more than 5 million battery cells per annum into modular systems. These modules will deliver market-leading energy density levels.

Rob Watson, Director of Electrical, Rolls-Royce, said: “This multi-million-pound investment by Rolls-Royce over the next decade is another demonstration of our ambitions in electrification. We are developing a portfolio of energy storage solutions to complement our electrical propulsion systems. This will ensure that we can offer our customers a complete electric propulsion system for their platform, whether that is an eVTOL or a commuter aircraft. It will enable us to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for all-electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems, which is incredibly exciting as these new markets develop and expand.”

Rolls-Royce has been delivering battery solutions for many years and we have designed 10 different aerospace battery systems, using state-of-the-art cell technology. Of these batteries, four designs have already flown in three aircraft, accumulating more than 250 hours of flight experience and another two designs will complete their first flight in aircraft in 2021. This includes a battery developed with Electroflight, our UK manufacturing partner in the ACCEL programme, in which we have built the Spirit of Innovation aircraft, that is aiming to be the world’s fastest all-electric plane. Both ACCEL and the initial research and technology we have undertaken to develop industry leading ESS are being supported by the UK Government through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI).

We are also working closely with WMG, University of Warwick through its High Value Manufacturing Catapult, an experienced research partner with extensive knowledge gained through supporting the automotive and other sectors, to develop our energy storage technology.

Battery pack design is a mechanical, thermal and containment design challenge and there has to be a strong focus on safety and low weight. These aspects are core to all the products that Rolls-Royce has a long history of producing in aerospace. This makes us ideally placed to deliver such industry-leading solutions.

Rolls-Royce and airframer Tecnam are currently working with Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia – to deliver an all-electric passenger aircraft for the commuter market, which is planned to be ready for revenue service in 2026. Rolls-Royce will deliver the entire electrical propulsion system including an energy storage system for the new P-VOLT aircraft.

Pictures and video footage can be found here:

https://vimeo.com/563584470

https://bit.ly/35xliNv

 

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

 

1. Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 [excluding product testing] and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

 

2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.

 

3. Annual underlying revenue was £11.76 billion in 2020 and we invested £1.25 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.

 

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Jones –  Marketing & Communications, Rolls-Royce Electrical

sarah.jones2@rolls-royce.com

M +44 (0)7968 906 469

Source: Rolls-Royce

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, April 30, 2021 – This week, the Christchurch Engine Centre, a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand, celebrates its 20-year anniversary.

The Christchurch Engine Centre employs approximately 350 people and is one of the world’s best-in-class centers performing maintenance, repair and overhaul work for the V2500® engine. The V2500 engine is offered through IAE International Aero Engines AG, a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE:RTX), Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines. It is the engine of choice for the efficient operation of A320ceo passenger and cargo airlines around the world, including Air New Zealand. The engine has powered more than 60 million flights, accumulating more than 240 million engine flight hours. Narrowbody aircraft powered by V2500 and Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines are leading the recovery in passenger services in the Asia Pacific region thanks to the engines’ lower fuel burn and lower trip costs.

Employees celebrated the milestone with an afternoon tea that opened with appreciation remarks from Graham Jack, general manager at Christchurch Engine Centre.

“We operate in a very competitive global marketplace, but thanks to the integrity, hard work and quality of service delivered by our employees, past and present, we’re able to put Christchurch on the map and attract business from all over the world,” said Jack. “I’ve been with this company for 25 years and still look forward to coming to work and working alongside some incredibly talented people.”

Jack acknowledged the difficulties facing the aviation sector but believes a corner has been turned and better days are ahead.

“2020 was a difficult year. It has not been easy for anyone. We continue to experience reduced commercial business as a result of this global pandemic, but things seem to be improving: The travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia is now established, and our customers are slowly returning to the skies. There’s still a long way to go but thanks to our amazing people, excellent customer relationships, the strength of the partnership between Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand, and most importantly the quality of our work, we will ensure we continue to go beyond for many years to come.”

Also sharing a message of thanks via video was Air New Zealand CEO, Greg Foran. Air New Zealand’s association with the Christchurch Engine Centre dates back to 1953, when as National Airways Corporation it transferred its maintenance and engineering division from Palmerston North to the city.

“Air New Zealand has enjoyed a long history with Pratt & Whitney. Their engines have supported our airline fleet from our early years to our current V2500-powered A320 fleet today,” Foran said.

“The joint venture has enjoyed many successful developments to make it the world-class business it is today. Most of all, I want to recognize the efforts of staff and management over the past 20 years who have contributed to make this joint venture so successful. Air New Zealand looks forward to working with Pratt & Whitney to continue to develop this business.”

Since 2005, Christchurch Engine Centre has overhauled 1,000 V2500 engines. Pratt & Whitney’s association with Christchurch goes back to 1948 when the company’s radial R1830, R1340 and R985 engines were serviced at the Harewood site.

Geoff Winter, a quality assurance systems and audit engineer, has worked at the facility for more than 20 years and was on-site when the joint venture came into effect.

“I’ve been in my current role 14 years now and with the company longer than that. I’ve had so many opportunities come my way, which keeps things challenging and fresh,” Winter said.

“It’s been fantastic to see the company grow, see it develop and diversify. The best thing about it though is the local team, there’s a lot of great people who work here. All with ideas, innovations and challenges that change your thinking and lead us to continuously innovate. I’m very proud of the work we do here in Christchurch. Long may it continue.”

Joseph Sylvestro, vice president of Global Aftermarket Operations at Pratt & Whitney, echoed these sentiments with a recorded message for employees.

“Your dedication, hard work and drive to support our customers has propelled Christchurch to become one of the world’s top engine overhaul centers. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts and offer congratulations on your 20 years of continued success and world-class customer service,” Sylvestro said.

“At Pratt & Whitney, our culture prioritizes continuous learning, personal growth, diversity and exploration, and you help to consistently demonstrate these traits. Thank you for all that you do.”

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. To learn more about RTX, visit its website at www.rtx.com. To receive Pratt & Whitney press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

Source: Pratt & Whitney

Europe’s Next-Generation Fighter (NGF) within the FCAS program takes a decisive step forward as MTU Aero Engines and Safran Aircraft Engines finalized their collaboration agreement by creating a 50/50 joint company. The new entity, called EUMET GmbH (derived from European Military Engine Team), will be based in Munich and will be headed by a Safran-nominated Chief Executive Officer.

EUMET will oversee the development, production and support of the engine to power the Next-Generation Fighter (NGF). The joint venture will be the sole contract partner for the participating nations in the engine program. On this basis, MTU Aero Engines and Safran Aircraft Engines are looking forward to involve the Spanish company ITP Aero in this challenging engine roadmap. ITP will be contracted as a main partner to EUMET. Through EUMET, the partners will be developing the technology and demonstrators for a best-in-class engine that will meet the evolving needs of European armed forces.

“Establishing a joint company for this next European fighter engine is a further milestone in the close relationship of our companies which lasts already for six decades,” commented Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer of MTU and first Chairman of the Shareholders Meeting of EUMET. “This opens the next chapter in European aerospace cooperation and mirrors our equitable partnership. We have set a reliable and solid framework for pragmatic and focused decisions among the partners over the entire life-cycle of the engine.”

“The conclusion of this agreement reflects the strong and joint determination of our two companies to undertake the technological development phase of the NGF engine,” noted Jean-Paul Alary, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aircraft Engines. “We are looking forward to effectively undertaking this role and accountabilities throughout the program’s life, starting with key developments in R&T phase along with integrating the M88 engine into the NGF aircraft demonstrator.”

The collaboration agreement between MTU Aero Engines and Safran Aircraft Engines is based on the principles defined in the Letter of Intent (LoI) and Terms of Agreement (ToA) signed by the two companies in February and December 2019, respectively. The agreement will remain effective for the program entire lifespan. The agreement terms and conditions clearly define each of the partner’s industrial responsibilities: Safran Aircraft Engines will lead the engine’s overall design and integration, while MTU Aero Engines will lead the engine service activities. MTU Aero Engines and Safran Aircraft Engines will combine their respective skills and expertise according to the “best athlete” principle, within the scope of a balanced and effective governance structure and experts from both companies will jointly address the upcoming development challenges.

Source: MTU Maintenance

MTU Aero Engines, Safran Aircraft Engines, and ITP Aero came to an overall agreement on the cooperation to provide a jointly developed, produced and supported engine to power the Next-Generation Fighter (NGF), which is a core element of FCAS (Future Combat Air System).

ITP joining the program as a main partner of MTU’s and Safran’s new joint venture EUMET will allow an equal workshare between France, Germany and Spain. EUMET will be the sole prime contractor with the nations for all engine activities related to the Next-Generation Fighter, with ITP Aero acting as main partner.

“We have set a reliable and solid framework for pragmatic and focused decisions among the partners over the entire life-cycle of the engine”, commented Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer of MTU and first Chairman of the Shareholders’ Meeting of EUMET. He continued. “Having reached this we will jointly focus on the major next steps ahead: Securing the contract for the demonstrator phase during the next few months and ramping up development activities in line with our highly ambitious timeline until 2040.”

“FCAS is a highly strategic program, enabling to maintain our fundamental competencies in military engines, while also strengthening national and European defense capabilities”, noted Jean-Paul Alary, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aircraft Engines. “As leader of the NGF engine design and integration, Safran Aircraft Engines is looking forward to building solid foundations and strengthening the partnership with MTU and ITP Aero teams.”

“Today’s agreement marks a very relevant milestone for ITP Aero and the FCAS program. We believe this program will be instrumental for ITP Aero moving forward, showcasing the role and capabilities of the Spanish defence industry within the future of Europe’s defence. We look forward to working with our partners Safran and MTU Aero”, commented Carlos Alzola, CEO ITP Aero.

Within EUMET, Safran Aircraft Engines will lead the engine’s overall design and integration, while MTU Aero Engines will lead the engine service activities. ITP Aero will be fully integrated into the design of the engine and develop the low-pressure turbine and the nozzle amongst other items.

According to the timetable defined by the national authorities, the next Research & Technology phase (R&T 1B/2) should pass the national approval processes by the middle of this year in order to move the FCAS program to the next level.

Source: MTU Maintenance