PARIS — Turkish Aerospace Industries has signed a deal giving the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC) a place on the Turkish Light Utility Helicopter (TLUH) program as the engine provider.
The two sides inked a Memorandum of Understanding at the Paris Air Show June 16 for fitting the Honeywell /Rolls-Royce joint venture concern’s CTS800 engine on the utility machine now being developed by TAI
TAI said in a statement released at the show that the two sides will now progress discussions aimed at reaching a full contract agreement to fit the powerpack to the indigenous 5 ton, twin engine machine.
It’s the second win for the CTS800 on a Turkish helicopter. The engine is already used on the T129 ATAK version of the AgustaWestland A-129 attack helicopter.
The TLUH engine will be the same model as that used on the T129 but with a commercialized version of the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC).
The Turkish Government awarded TAI a contract to develop the light utility machine in 2013.
The engine currently powers the British Army Lynx Mk9A, the Super Lynx 300 and the AW159 helicopters and was recently selected by the Brazilian Navy for the mid-life upgrade program of its Mk21A Lynx maritime helicopters. It is also used by Sikorsky on its X2 technology demonstrator helicopter.
