Safran Starts Assembly of Arriel 2E Helicopter Engine in U.S.

Safran has opened a second assembly line at their facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, for the Arriel 2E engine.

The first assembled and tested Arriel 2E engines have been delivered to Airbus. These engines power the UH-72B delivered to the U.S. Army as part of the newest Lakota helicopter. Also installed in the H145, the Arriel 2E was until now produced in France.

Safran Helicopter Engines assembles, tests and supports several Arriel variants at the Grand Prairie, Texas facility, including the 2D for the Airbus H125 and the 1E2 for the UH-72A Lakota.

The U.S. Army is a major operator with over 900 engines in its Lakota fleet. The U.S. Coast Guard fleet of Airbus MH-65 Dolphins are also powered by the Arriel engine.

With power outputs ranging from 650 to over 1,000 shp, the Arriel family powers over 40 different rotorcraft. Certified in December 2012 and in service since August 2014, the Arriel 2E is one of the latest variants. It offers 20% more power than the current Arriel 1E2 in the EC145.