Rolls-Royce engine test proves Adour MK 821 is fit for Indian Jaguar requirement

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Rolls-Royce has successfully installed and tested the Adour Mk 821 engine in a Jaguar aircraft to prove its capability and suitability for the Indian Air Force’s Jaguar upgrade requirement.

The Mk 821 engine was installed into a Royal Air Force Jaguar for the ground test at Cosford, which was witnessed by a representative of the Indian Government. The installation went smoothly and required no airframe changes. During testing the Adour Mk 821 ran at full reheat and passed all performance targets set down by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The test was conducted by Rolls-Royce Chief Test Pilot Phill O’Dell who commented: “As a former RAF Jaguar pilot myself I was impressed with the performance and functionality that the Mk 821 delivered. This had no adverse affect on the aircraft, highlighting the ease of the integration process and the compatibility of the engine with the airframe. This is no real surprise as they were literally made for each other.”

Martin Fausset, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, said: “As the only engine certified for the Jaguar we were always confident that the Adour MK 821 could be successfully installed without any aircraft modification, even with the new technologies and enhanced performance, but this exercise has allowed us to demonstrate this high level of compatibility to the Indian Air Force.

“We believe that we have proved that the Adour MK 821 meets all Indian Air Force performance requirements at the lowest risk.”

The Mk 821 includes several technology inserts from other civil and military programmes and has been specifically designed for the Indian operational requirements, offering the twin benefits of greater thrust and lower life cycle costs.

The Adour engine has been developed by Rolls-Royce Turbomeca and the Mk 871 variant is currently in licensed production with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for India’s new Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer. The Mk 871 shares a high degree of commonality with the new Mk 821 variant, offering potential benefits to both the Indian Air Force and HAL in support of India’s objective of self-reliance.

Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
The Group has a broad customer base comprising more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries. It employs around 39,000 people worldwide people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in 50 countries and has businesses headquartered in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia and China. This global presence allows the Group to access long-term international growth opportunities with its technology, presence, partnerships and people.
In 2008, Rolls-Royce and its partners invested over £800 million on research and development, two thirds of which has the objective of further improving the environmental aspects of its products. The primary technology investment area is aimed at reducing noise and emissions.
Annual sales were £9.1 billion in 2008, of which 52 per cent came from services revenues. The firm and announced order book at the end of 2008 stood at £55.5 billion, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
Rolls-Royce is the world's number two defence aero engine company with 160 customers in 103 countries.
The company offers engines in all key defence market sectors - combat, transport, helicopters, trainers, patrol, maritime and reconnaissance - and is well positioned on a number of new programmes that will deliver products over the next decade and beyond.
Rolls-Royce has a long and proud history of partnership with India. In 1932 the company supplied Gipsy engines to power Dragon Rapide DH-89 aircraft operated by Tata Airlines - the forerunner to Air India. In the defence sector, Rolls-Royce celebrated the 75th anniversary of its partnership with the Indian Air Force in 2008, a milestone that coincided with the induction of the latest Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers in India - powered by Rolls-Royce engines.
In 2006, the company celebrated the 50th anniversary of its partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore, the largest defence manufacturing company in India. The partnership started with the licenced production by HAL of the Orpheus in 1956 and HAL became a supplier to Rolls-Royce in 2003 exporting ring forgings to the UK for use in civil aero engines. The relationship continues to flourish, with HAL partnering Rolls-Royce on the AJT’s Adour Mk871 engine. HAL is producing over 44 of the engines at its facility in Bangalore, where it has been producing Adour Mk811 engines for the Jaguar since 1981.
Rolls-Royce is expanding its presence in all its business sectors in India. India’s new value-based airlines have selected the V2500 engine for cost effective operations and last year the Group invested in a new Marine maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Navi, Mumbai.
In India the energy business has more than 100 gas turbines in service generating power and driving gas compressors for on-shore and off-shore applications, 14 RB 211s with the remainder being Avon and 501 engines. In addition more than 250 Rolls-Royce reciprocating engines operate in India. Total installed capacity of Rolls-Royce energy customers in India exceeds 1500MW. Rolls-Royce gas turbines will power an extension to one of India’s major gas pipelines for Gas Authority India Limited. The Group is also in the process of increasing its Bangalore-based design engineering efforts.

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Rolls-Royce engine test proves Adour MK 821 is fit for Indian Jaguar requirement

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