Turbomeca RTM322 selected

Rolls-Royce PLC
12 December 2001
                                                               12 December 2001

      FIVE MORE EUROPEAN NATIONS SELECT ROLLS-ROYCE TURBOMECA RTM322


Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines have been selected to power new
medium-lift helicopters required by the armed forces of five more European
nations - Denmark, Finland, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. The Anglo-French
joint venture estimates the value of this engine business throughout the
operational lives of the aircraft to be around 250 million Euros (£150
million).


Nine countries in Europe have now selected RTM322-powered helicopters,
underlining the engine's position as the leading powerplant for the European
medium-sized helicopter market.  More than 1,000 engines have been ordered or
are on option, of which over 300 have been delivered since the engine entered
service in 1998.


Denmark has ordered 14 EH101 helicopters for search and rescue (SAR) and
utility duties, and the 12 EH101s selected by Portugal will undertake SAR,
combat SAR and fishery protection.  Portugal has also selected ten NH
Industries NH90 helicopters for tactical transport duties.


Finland has ordered 20 NH90 helicopters, for tactical troop transport and SAR
duties.  Norway has signed the contract for 14 NH90s for anti-submarine
warfare (ASW) and coast guard roles, with ten options for SAR missions, while
Sweden is to take 18 NH90s for ASW, troop transport and SAR duties, and has
options on a further seven.


Emeric d'Arcimoles, Chairman and CEO of Turbomeca, said today:  'We are
delighted that these five additional nations have selected the RTM322 in the
last quarter of the year to meet their future requirements. This selection
clearly establishes the RTM322 as the natural engine of choice for these
world-class European helicopters and clearly demonstrates today's customers
are looking for the many operational benefits that come from a modern
helicopter engine with the latest engine technology.'


Stuart Mullan, President - Helicopters for Rolls-Royce, said:  'The RTM322 is
the only engine family providing the performance, power growth and handling
qualities needed by medium-lift rotorcraft in the foreseeable future. We shall
ensure that this engine remains at the centre of rotorcraft development for
the next 30 years or more.'


Existing RTM322 customers include France, Germany and The Netherlands, which
selected the Anglo-French engine to power up to 399 NH90 helicopters, and the
United Kingdom, which is already operating two variants of the RTM322-powered
EH101 Merlin for the Royal Navy and RAF.  The RTM322 also powers the Apache AH
Mk 1 for the British Army.



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The 2,000-3,000 shaft horsepower RTM322 has established itself as the engine
of choice for medium-sized helicopters.  It is the newest and most technically
advanced helicopter engine in its class, providing operators with the benefits
of full authority digital engine control (FADEC), which offers improved
helicopter handling and a reduced pilot workload.


Notes to Editors
            
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca is jointly owned by Rolls-Royce plc and Turbomeca,
member of the Snecma group.  Since its formation in 1966, it has developed and
produced nearly 2,700 Adour turbofan engines for the SEPECAT Jaguar, BAE
SYSTEMS Hawk and Mitsubishi T-2/F-1 fleets.

The RTM322 entered service with the Royal Navy in Merlin HM Mk1 in 1998 and
the GKN Westland Apache AH Mk1 in March 2000.  The RTM322-02/8 engine entered
service with the Royal Air Force Merlin HC Mk3 in early 2001.


For further information please contact:

Gary Atkins                           Rolls-Royce plc
Phone: [phone]                email: [e-mail]



Bettina Frey                          Turbomeca
Phone: [phone]                email: [e-mail]