French engine manufacturer Snecma has delivered the first series-production M88-2 engine destined to power the multi-role Dassault Rafale. The company says that it has orders for a further four engines during 1997, which will be supplied as part of the current 42-engine orderbook. Testing of the M88 continues, with the 22 test engines clocking up a total of 12,666h of running time, 4,424 of which were in flight.
Source: Flight International