Safran-MTU Joint Venture to Develop Engines for Future European Military Helicopters

Safran Helicopter Engines and MTU Aero Engines have signed a cooperation agreement to establish a 50/50 joint venture named EURA (European Military Rotorcraft Engine Alliance).

This new entity, which aims to develop engines for military helicopters, will be based at Safran Helicopter Engines headquarters in Bordes, France. The CEO of EURA will be selected from within MTU.

The joint venture will focus on developing a new heavy, 100% European helicopter engine designed to power the next generation of military helicopters scheduled to enter service by 2040. This engine is intended to increase efficiency while reducing operating and maintenance costs. It will be particularly suitable for the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) project, initiated by the European Union in late 2022 to advance vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft technologies for the post-2035 timeframe.

Safran and MTU are both members of the Airbus Helicopters-led European Next Generation Rotorcraft consortium, which secured a €40 million contract from the European Defence Fund (EDF) in 2021 to study future VTOL needs and capabilities. The establishment of EURA is expected to promote a future specific call for military helicopter engines within the EDF.

EURA will develop new technologies such as hybrid-electric propulsion and high-temperature materials to meet the specifications of future helicopter projects.

This agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2023.

In related developments, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is working on its Next Generation Rotorcraft Program to create a new-generation medium-lift helicopter, awarding a study on a new engine for the rotorcraft to GE Aerospace in December. Additionally, the European Union’s Permanent Structured Cooperation scheme launched the Next Generation Medium Helicopter project last year to provide solutions for future EU rotorcraft capabilities through new platforms and upgrades of existing ones, particularly the NH90.

Safran and MTU have a history of collaboration, including a joint venture with ITP Aero to develop a next-generation engine for the Future Combat Air System. Safran supplies helicopter engines to Airbus and Leonardo, while MTU partners with Safran on the Tiger attack helicopter power plant and with GE Aerospace on the engine for the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter.