Piaggio Aerospace and Safran Helicopter Engines have signed a letter of intent to cooperate on the production of the Ardiden 3 engine family. Under the agreement, Italy-based Piaggio will manufacture “critical parts” for turboprop and turboshaft variants of the 1,700- to 2,000-shp Ardiden 3 family. The companies already collaborate on the RTM322 and Aneto engine families for production of hot section parts of these engines.
Safran has received EASA approval for an Ardiden 3 turboshaft variant that powers the Kamov Ka-62 helicopter but is now developing the Ardiden 3TP turboprop under the European Clean Sky 2 program. The Ardiden 3TP is expected to have 15 percent better fuel efficiency than current turboprop engines.
According to Safran, the agreement with Piaggo strengthens the European team built around the Ardiden 3TP for general, regional, and military aviation aircraft turboprop applications. This team also includes ZF Aviation Technology in Germany and ITP Aero in Spain.
“With the Ardiden 3TP, we are committed to deliver a 100 percent European engine featuring high levels of design maturity and competitive operating and maintenance costs,” said Safran Helicopter Engines executive v-p of OEM sales Florent Chauvancy. “It will be designed, built, and supported by highly experienced teams using modern industrial capabilities in Italy, Germany, Spain, and France.”