Leonardo and Safran partner for AW09 engine

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Leonardo Helicopters has picked French engine manufacturer Safran to supply the power unit for its next generation Kopter AW09 single-engine helicopter.

The next generation of the helicopter will feature the Arriel 2K engine, rather than the Honeywell HTS900 in the current version of the aircraft. Together, the companies will provide support networks and “competitive” maintenance solutions and cost of operations.

Gian Piero Cutillo, MD, Leonardo Helicopters said the partnership is consistent with maintaining a “commitment to deliver to the market exactly what it expects from a single engine of the latest standards backed by an efficient and responsive global support network”.

Franck Saudo, CEO, Safran Helicopter Engines said: “We will bring to the AW09 our strong expertise in single-engine helicopter applications together with the specific feature of the engine.” He added that the new engine will bring “a high level of capability, reliability and ease of operations to the AW09”.

The latest AW09 prototype, PS4, is about to start flight test activities with the Arriel 2K engine at Kopter’s facility in Mollis, Switzerland.

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