Exclusive! Emerging opportunities in India says Rolls Royce

Neelam Mathews

Sept 27, 2011

With 1300 engines in India, of which over 1000 are installed and operating in defense, along with a recent initiative with L&T, and Tata Consulting, Rolls Royce Defense Aerospace says it  has doubled its workforce in India, an indication of the level of importance of India and the level of collaborations

As defense budgets shrink the worldover, “it is important to maximize our customer base and India is a key strategic market for us,” says John Gay, Sr. VP, Customer Services.

Rolls responded to an RFP in early September (T800) alongwith contender Turbomeca for Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Light Utility Helicopter. HAL is presently evaluating the technical bids for a turboshaft engine.

Embraer Defense and Security has selected the IAE V2500-E5 engine to equip the KC-390 military transport jet. Gay says there are opportunities in India if the Medium Transport Aircraft is a twin engine.

The first deliveries of the V2500-E5 engines for the KC-390 prototypes are scheduled for 2013, and the flight tests for 2014. The aircraft should go into service in 2015.

As a decision is awaited by the government on a new engine for the Jaguar powered by Adour Mk811 engines since 1981 for which Rolls answered an RFP for an upgrade and later withdrew when asked to replace it with a new engine, ”We remain committed to supporting the Adour engine….We’re still talking to improve availability and reliability of the Adour,” said Gay.

Applying the civil concept of power by the hour to military applications, Rolls is offering “Mission Care” with work done “adjacent to customers using Indian nationals.”. Aerospace Diary learns in India concerns have been cited about this model should a crisis like a war take place where the country would not like foreigners to work on its machines.

With a commonality in the 2005 purchased  AE 3007 engines that  power Embraer Legacy Jets, specified for VVIPs and surveillance duties and the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engines-the latest entrant in the IAF fleet, to enter service, costs for maintenance will be reduced, says Gay.

Rolls-Royce is also part of the Eurojet engine consortium on the Eurofighter Typhoon, down-selected by India in the MMRCA competition, in April 2011.