Safran and AVIC have signed a framework agreement to establish a joint venture in China that will design and produce components for turboprop engines on behalf of the two parent companies.

Both companies will hold a 50% stake in the unnamed venture, which will focus on the design, development and testing of power turbines and flame tubes. It intends to hire around 50 specialised engineers, most of them in China, Safran says in a statement.

A memorandum of understanding for the new venture was first signed in March, which was followed by a further agreement in July, prior to the signing of the framework agreement at Airshow China in Zhuhai.

Safran says that the new joint venture builds on an already strong relationship between the two companies, which includes components on Comac’s C919 and ARJ-21 programmes.

Safran’s Turbomeca division is also cooperating with AVIC Engine on the development of the Ardiden 3C turboshaft helicopter engine, which is expected to be certificated next year. It will be installed on the Avicopter AC352.

Source: Cirium Dashboard