The NH90, which is making daily demonstration flights at the air show, has become the transport helicopter of choice for over a dozen countries in just a few short years. Its success goes hand in hand with that of the RTM322, a state-of-the-art turboshaft engine offered by RRTM, a joint venture of Turbomeca and Rolls-Royce.

August 2004: Australia selects the NH90, alias the MRH90, for its Air 9000 program. Nine months later, it tabs the RTM322 turboshaft engine for its 12 twin-engine machines. The latest success for this engine produced jointly by Turbomeca and Rolls-Royce, and which also powers the British Apache AH-64D helicopters, and the tri-engine EH-101.

Facing off against the General Electric T700 to power the NH90, the RTM322 has won ten of eleven competitions to date!

“The RTM322 flew for the first time in 1995 and is a more modern engine than its competitor,” notes Jean François Sauer, sales engineer at Turbomeca. “It also harbors excellent growth potential.” Personnel in the field appreciate the technical qualities of the RTM322, including a simple, modular design, and a remarkable filtration system, highly commended by current users.

With the NH90 riding a global success wave, the RTM322 also enjoys a brilliant sales outlook. In addition to the hundred or so engines to be delivered to Australia and New Zealand, other contracts are looming on the horizon in the Middle East and Spain, which has already announced its choice of the NH90.

At the same time, RRTM is working on a more powerful upgraded version of the engine, as well as its certification for civilian applications.

Other SAFRAN group companies contribute to the NH90 as well:
- Aircelle: aerostructures (engine cowls).
- Labinal: avionics bays and wiring for cockpit and cabin.
- Messier-Bugatti: hydraulic equipment (uplock actuator for deck landings).
- Microturbo: Saphir 100 APU.
- Sagem Défense Sécurité: navigation system, flight control system, avionics assembly for FBW controls, multispectral optronics pod.
- Sofrance: filtration (main gearbox lubrication, engine and avionics air filters).
- Technofan: ventilation system for the remote accessories gearbox (RAGB), as well as fans for avionics and air conditioning.
- Techspace Aero, through Cenco International: RTM322 test cells.