Rolls Royce Wins Contract for AH-64 Engine Maintenance

The UK MoD has publicized a six-year contract, valued at about $570 million, with Rolls Royce to provide engine maintenance for the RTM322 engines that equip Britain’s 66 AH-64 Apache (2 engines each) and 57 AW101 Merlin (3 engines each) helicopters. 

 

Earlier in the month, Rolls-Royce officials announced the finalization of its sale of its RTM322 helicopter engine share to its partner, Safran’s Turbomeca, for approximately about $454 million. Turbomeca has assumed full responsibility for managing the design, production, and support of the RTM322 engine. However, Rolls-Royce will provide assistance to maintain customer support, which means the British firm will probably manage Turbomeca personnel, who will in turn use some transferred Rolls Royce employees to perform support.

 

Work will take place at RAF Benson (Merlin), RNAS Culdrose (Merlin), Army Air Corps airfields at Wattisham and Middle Wallop (Apache), and at Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca sites in the UK and France.

 

This is a separate arrangement from AgustaWestland’s Integrated Operational Support (IOS) and Merlin support contracts. 

 

Britain flies a unique version of the AH-64D Apache Longbow, built under license from Boeing by AgustaWestland.