Safran Helicopter Engines strengthens support and Maintenance capabilities for German Military Helicopters with new contracts and facilities.
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a significant support-by-the-hour contract with Airbus Helicopters. This agreement covers the engines powering the German Bundeswehr’s new Airbus H145M helicopters. The Support-By-the-Hour contract includes in-service support and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul). It applies to more than 124 Arriel 2E engines from helicopter entry into service to 2030. Additionally, this contract supplements existing SBH agreements for the German forces H145M LUH SOF and H145 LUH SAR helicopters.
Safran Helicopter Engines Germany in Hamburg will manage the contract. This office monitors and supports 300 helicopter operators in Germany, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. The total fleet includes 2,000 engines.
Mathieu Albert, Safran Helicopter Engines, Executive Vice-President, Support and Services, said, “Through this contract, we are further consolidating our support offer to German forces. Whether through the SBH contract for the H145 fleet, or the Global Support Package (GSP) contract for the NH90 fleet, we support the German forces with the best possible service models, which maximize equipment availability while optimizing costs. Added to this is the construction of new facilities for Safran Helicopter Engines Germany near Hamburg, which will significantly enhance our MRO capacity in this area.”
Safran powers most of the German armed forces’ helicopters. The H145 and H145M use the Arriel 2E engine. The NH90 operates with the RTM322 engine. Additionally, the Tiger UHT is equipped with the MTR390 engine, co-developed with MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce, and ITP Aero. Furthermore, the H135 training helicopters are powered by the Arrius 2B1 engine.
Safran Helicopter Engines’ SBH is an hourly maintenance service. It provides visibility on engine operating costs and streamlines financial flows. The service also enhances flexibility in scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations. Additionally, SBH integrates with high value-added digital services, including Health Monitoring, Expert Link, and Online SBH.
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Q. – What does the support-by-the-hour contract cover?
A. – In-service support and MRO for Arriel 2E engines.
Q. – How many Arriel 2E engines are included in the contract?
A. – More than 124 engines.
