Rolls-Royce to showcase military engines in Dubai

Bristol, UK: This year at the Dubai Air Show, aviation engine-maker Rolls-Royce will showcase three major products from its military engine stable - Adour 1051, RTM 322 and T800, said a top company official.

"From the civil side, one from the Trent family engines will be represented at the show, but still I do not know which one. Obviously it will be a scale model because they are such big engines," said Nick Britton, communications manager, Rolls-Royce.

The Adour 1051 powers the BAE Systems' Hawk helicopters, the RTM322 is built for the NH90 and the T800 engine is used by the Super Lynx.

"It [Dubai Air Show] is always a very good opportunity for us because in three days you get to meet a large number of defence delegations from several countries that would have otherwise taken more than three months...

"We will be first looking at the UAE's demand and then try to access the needs of individual countries in the region."

Sales opportunities

John Boughton, director of sales and marketing, Rolls-Royce Defence Aero-space, said, "The UAE is looking at buying the Airbus A330 air-to-air refuelling tanker for which we have our Trent 700 engine. So if the decision is made in favour of A330, we will have a bigger presence in the country. The UAE is also planning to buy some trainer aeroplanes. That will also bring sales opportunities for us."

Rolls-Royce is investing up to £75 million over three years in site redevelopment, mostly in the United Kingdom.

The company also is in the process of recruiting approximately 3,600 people to support its modernisation and expansion plans.

The value of Rolls-Royce's current orderbook stands at £26.1 billion and the company is fast upgrading its production lines to satisfy the demand.

Gaz Yates, Rolls-Royce production manager, engine assembly and despatch operations, said, "We have demolished or upgraded most of our old facilities, many dating back to the World War II. Better floor-space utilisation through a modern workflow has enabled us reduce the time taken to make the engines significantly. For example, the Trent engines, which is made up of more than 26,500 parts, took at least 25-30 days to complete.

Now that decreased to roughly 14-15 days. It has led to better manpower utilisation, cost-cutting and increase of production."

Rolls-Royce is soon to complete setting up the world's first indoor testing facility in Darvy, United Kingdom. Two engines can simultaneously be tested at the facility.