Rolls-Royce Launches Latest M250 Engine Variant for Commercial, Military Helicopters

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has launched the latest variant of its M250 engine – the M250-C47E.

“Both commercial and military customers will benefit from these improvements as we continue to evolve the proven legacy of the M250 engine.”

Rolls-Royce has secured a commercial launch commitment for one new and two current aircraft applications, with a customer announcement expected at Heli Expo.

The US Navy has committed as the first military customer to incorporate the M250-C47E into the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout. Rolls-Royce has delivered a development engine to Northrop Grumman for a demonstrator aircraft for the Rapid Deployment Capability program.

The M250-C47E takes the outstanding performance of the -C47B/M and joins it with a Value Improvement Package (VIP) and a new, dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The engine design includes a similar mounting configuration to the -C47B/M models.

The new M250-C47E improves efficiency and performance, using proven technology already demonstrated in the field. These include a five percent improvement in ‘hot and high’ power and a nearly eight percent increase in rated takeoff power to 700 shaft horsepower. Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) is reduced by a typical two percent and engine reliability is increased.

Greg Fedele, Rolls-Royce, Senior Vice President – Helicopters, said, “The newest evolution of the M250 engine will deliver improved power and reliability with reduced fuel consumption.”

“Both commercial and military customers will benefit from these improvements as we continue to evolve the proven legacy of the M250 engine.”

Rolls-Royce has delivered more than 31,000 M250 engines, with the fleet totalling over 223 Million flight hours.

Notes to Editors:

1. Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
2. As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in more than 80 countries.
3. Annual underlying revenue was $19.5* billion in 2012, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at $96.2 billion at 31 December 2012, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
4. Rolls-Royce employs over 45,000 people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 14,000 of these employees are engineers.
5. In 2012, Rolls-Royce invested $1.47 billion on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.
6. Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
7. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.

* Assumed exchange rate: £1.00= $1.60