Achill
Space Cadet
Nabend,Snecma Confident About Rafale M88 Upgrade
Nov 16, 2009
John Morris/Show News
Dubai Airshow
Snecma remains "very confident" that development of a more powerful M88 engine for the export Rafale fighter will go ahead even though the debate over who will pay for it remains unresolved.
"We are currently pursuing some testing as I do not want to be late. The engine will be on time," Snecma Group president Philippe Petitcolin told Show News here. The UAE Air Force has requested a nine tonnes thrust M88 engine for the Rafale instead of the current 7.5 tonnes as it considers an $8.3 billion-$1.8 billion deal for up to 60 of the aircraft, which would make it the first export customer for the type. "We are in discussions with the customer," said Petitcolin. Meanwhile Snecma is working on other upgrades to the engine for the French armed forces that will be incorporated into the higher thrust version. These include a new high-pressure core design as part of a package of improvements, known as the Pack CGP-9T, that are intended to reduce M88 ownership costs.
Although Snecma is developing improvements with an eye to the bigger engine "I did not say we are pursuing full development," Petitcolin said. "I do not think funding the upgrade will be a problem," he said. "Negotiations are open until you come to signing the contract. But we are very confident on going ahead" if the UAE cements the Rafale deal, he added.
Snecma erwähnt mit Überzeugung, dass die Modernisierung der M88 Triebwerke der Rafale reibungslos verlaufen wird. Die Luftwaffe der VAE fordern die Aufstockung des Schubs der Rafale von aktuell 7,5t auf 9t für den eventuellen Kauf von 60 Maschinen. Viele Fragen sind noch offen was die Finanzierung angeht.
aviationweek
MfG Achill