Andrew Doyle/MUNICH
Rolls-Royce (R-R) and Snecma are close to agreement on a joint engine proposal for the Airbus Military Company (AMC) A400M airlifter.
Industry sources say talks on the three-shaft design will be based on a modified core taken from the French company's M88 fighter engine and will incorporate major elements of the architecture of R-R's commercial Trent 700 turbofan. The talks are believed to be focused on the commercial aspects of a deal and industrial workshare arrangements.
R-R had previously offered AMC its BR700-TP turboprop, while the Snecma-led Turboprop International consortium, which includes MTU, FiatAvio and ITP, put forward the M138. However, the companies are under political pressure to make a joint proposal.
The sources say R-R has proposed that the air intake, reduction gear box and three-stage low-pressure turbine from the BR700-TP be incorporated in the joint engine, as well as a five-stage low-pressure compressor and intermediate pressure turbine scaled from the Trent 700. The M138's M88-derived core would be retained.
R-R is believed to have already presented the proposed configuration to German Government officials and received a "favourable" response. Germany is one of the seven nations that has pledged to order the A400M.
One workshare scenario would see Snecma take responsibility for manufacturing the core, with R-R handling the high- and low-pressure turbines, MTU the intermediate spool and Fiat the propeller transmission and gearbox.
Source: Flight International
