Safran Helicopter Engines will provide MRO and other supporting services for over 900 Arriel 1E2 and Arriel 2E engines, operated by the U.S. Army on its UH-72A and UH-72B fleet.
Safran Helicopter Engines, a manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters has announced that the company has been awarded a renewal of an engine support agreement with Airbus Helicopters. According to the agreement, Safran Helicopter Engines will continue to support the Arriel engines that power the U.S. Army UH-72 Lakota helicopter fleet.
This newly extended contract has formalized that Safran Helicopter Engines will provide services according to a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and service agreement supporting over 900 Arriel 1E2 and Arriel 2E engines, operated by the U.S. Army on its UH-72A and UH-72B helicopter fleet.
This new Arriel engines support contract will be managed by Safran Helicopter Engines USA, from its Grand Prairie, TX, U.S. facility and its office located in Daleville, AL supporting the training fleet located at Fort Rucker, AL.
Thierry Derrien, Safran Helicopter Engines USA, President and CEO said: “Safran Helicopter Engines is honored to continue working alongside Airbus in providing the engine logistics support for the US Army fleet of UH-72 Lakota’s. Our team remains ready to support Airbus and the U.S. Army through proximity locations and continues to show the importance of our U.S. presence.”
The Arriel engine powers over 40 different rotorcraft of the U.S. Army with power outputs ranging from 650 to over 1,000 shp. The Arriel is the best-selling helicopter engine in its class, with over 12,000 engines produced and over 50 million flight hours flown. An Arriel-powered helicopter takes off every 15 seconds, every day.
Safran Helicopter Engines assembles, tests and supports several Arriel engine variants in the company’s Grand Prairie facility, including the Arriel 1E2 and the Arriel 2E. The Arriel engine has a reputation for reliability and footprint in the U.S., with more than 3,000 engines in service. The U.S. Army Arriel fleet has flown in excess of 2.5 million engine flight hours.
