RR, Safran agree on RTM322

Rolls-Royce today said it reached agreement to sell its shareholding and interest in the RTM322 helicopter engine program to Turbomeca, a Safran company. Rolls-Royce's 50 percent interest in the engine program will be progressively transferred to Turbomeca, which will then hold 100 percent of the program. The RTM322 engine powers the Apache, EH101 Merlin and NH90 helicopters. The RRTM Adour engine program, which powers Hawk and Jaguar aircraft, is unaffected by the agreement, as are the other helicopter engine programs in the Rolls-Royce portfolio. The sale is expected to complete before year end, subject to closing conditions. (Source: Rolls-Royce, 04/23/13) Gulf Coast ties: Rolls-Royce has its outdoor jet engine test facility at Stennis Space Center, Miss.; Safran this month opened an engineering office at Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Ala.