The European Commission has agreed to support Safran Helicopter Engines, MTU Aero Engines and Avio Aero on SHARP, a major research project focused on future military helicopter propulsion.
SHARP, short for Sovereign High-performance Architecture for Rotorcraft Propulsion, aims to develop scalable technology building blocks for a new state-of-the-art military helicopter engine. The project will receive around €25 million from the European Defence Fund.
The programme will bring together 25 partners from 12 European countries, including SMEs, universities and research institutes. By maturing critical technologies, SHARP will help pave the way for ENGHE, the European Next Generation Helicopter Engine.
ENGHE is intended to deliver advanced, cost-effective and sovereign propulsion for demanding military operations, while simplifying maintenance. The future engine is expected to feature breakthrough technologies that improve efficiency and cut operating and maintenance costs.
It is being developed with the next generation of military helicopters in mind, including the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies and Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability projects, which are expected to enter service around 2040. ENGHE is designed to support greater range and payload, higher speed and improved aircraft availability.
The SHARP project team is expected to be fully established in the coming months. It will be coordinated by EURA, the European Military Rotorcraft Engine Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Helicopter Engines and MTU Aero Engines.
Wolfgang Gärtner, CEO of EURA, said: “We are ready to coordinate this multinational, truly European team. We are united by the will and the track record to provide our forces with the most modern technologies, while ensuring European sovereignty.”
