Turbomeca (Safran) will support the fleet of RTM 322 engines powering the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) Merlin and Apache helicopters under an innovative service contract, worth £367 million (around Euro 425 million).

The six-year contract provides the UK MOD with a guaranteed level of availability for its RTM 322 engines, consolidating a number of current support agreements into one overall support package. This contract will improve the level of service for frontline operations, increasing engine time ‘on wing’ and reducing repair costs.

The service will be delivered at four main operating bases in the UK – RAF Benson, RNAS Culdrose, AAC Wattisham and AAC Middle Wallop.

As the RTM 322 engine is today 100% a Turbomeca engine*, the support and maintenance services to the UK MOD will be provided by Turbomeca UK established in Fareham, Hampshire, United-Kingdom.

Olivier Andriès, Turbomeca Chairman & CEO, said: “This agreement will deliver a greater level of availability and capability to the UK Armed Forces’ helicopter fleet in a more efficient and cost-effective way.”

Air Commodore Mark Sibley, who is responsible for the maintenance of Apaches and Chinooks, said: “Merlins and Apaches have been used extensively in Afghanistan and are two key capabilities for our Armed Forces. This contract has a number of benefits for our Apache and Merlin crews, principally improving engine availability and reliability, while reducing costs.”

* On September 2, 2013, Safran (NYSE Euronext Paris: SAF) announced that it finalized the acquisition from Rolls-Royce of Rolls-Royce’s 50% share in their joint RTM 322 helicopter engine programme.

Note to editors

• RTM 322 engines power Merlin helicopters in service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and also the British Army Air Corps’ Apache attack helicopter. • The RTM 322 Mk100 engine first entered service in 1999 with the UK Royal Navy (RN) for its fleet of Merlin HM Mk1 helicopters, following an engine competition.

Turbomeca (Safran) is the leading helicopter engine manufacturer, and has produced 70,000 turbines based on its own designs since the company was founded. Offering the widest range of engines in the world and dedicated to 2,500 customers in 155 countries, Turbomeca provides a proximity service thanks to its 16 sites, 30 Certified Maintenance Centers, 18 Repair & Overhaul Centers, and 90 Field representatives and Field technicians. Microturbo, the subsidiary of Turbomeca, is the European leader in turbojet engines for missiles, drones and auxiliary power units. For more information: www.turbomeca.com and www.safran-group.com .