A program to create a next-generation military helicopter engine led by European manufacturers has received a €25 million ($29 million) funding boost from the European Commission.
Announced during ILA Berlin, the money will be used to help fund the Sovereign High-performance Architecture for Rotorcraft Propulsion (SHARP) program, which aims to develop scalable technological building blocks for the new engine.
Safran Helicopter Engines, MTU Aero Engines and Avio Aero are leading the research project, which will involve a team of 25 partners from 12 European countries.
The companies said SHARP will pave the way for the European Next Generation Helicopter Engine (ENGHE), which they hope will power the next generation of military helicopters, including the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) and Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) projects.
“By supporting SHARP, and more broadly our ENGHE engine project, Europe is showing its willingness to ensure self-reliance in sovereignty and technologies for tomorrow’s military helicopters,” said Cédric Goubet, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO. “We thank the European Union and the EDF [European Defence Fund] initiative, as well as the nations that support our project, for their confidence in our capability and commitment to stronger European defense capabilities.”
The announcement follows the creation of a 50/50 joint venture between Safran and MTU — known as EURA (from European Military Rotorcraft Engine Alliance) — to develop the ENGHE in 2024.
The companies said the engine will feature breakthrough technologies that will “considerably” increase its efficiency, while reducing its operating and maintenace costs — enabling aircraft to fly further, faster, and with better maneuverability and availability.
When EURA was created, Safran and MTU had been targeting an initial technology development phase for the ENGHE from 2025 to 2029, followed by the its development from 2030, with entry-into-service by 2040.
“In light of a continuously aging European fleet of military helicopters the need is obvious: From 2040 onwards, a large proportion of these rotorcraft will have to be replaced,” said Dr. Ottmar Pfänder, chief program officer of MTU Aero Engines. “We joined forces across the continent to underline the importance of this technology program. It will further reinforce European sovereignty and strengthen the European supply chain.”
The SHARP project team is expected to be fully set up in the coming months. It will be coordinated by EURA.
“SHARP marks an important milestone in the journey toward Europe’s next-generation rotorcraft engine and reinforces the value of collaboration in developing sovereign, high-performance propulsion technologies,” said Riccardo Procacci, CEO of Avio Aero. “We are proud to partner with EURA on this initiative, contributing within a fully European framework while leveraging Avio Aero’s well-established expertise and know-how in helicopter propulsion.”
