FRANCO-RUSSIAN POWER

French and Russian industry executives are betting that PowerJet, a new joint venture of Snecma Moteurs and NPO Saturn, will give them a major foothold in the commercial engine market.

The 13,500-15,400-lb.-thrust SaM146 turbofan, which will power Sukhoi's 60-95-seat Russian Regional Jet (RRJ), is scheduled to obtain European Aviation Safety Agency and Avia Register certifications in June 2006. Last month, Siberian Airlines signed the RRJ's launch order, and additional sales are expected to be inked in the next few months (AW&ST July 26, p. 33).

The French manufacturer and NPO Saturn are equal partners in PowerJet, a holding company set to own two operational units, one in each country, Snecma Moteurs Chairman/CEO Marc Ventre says. He adds that the list of risk-sharing partners includes Hispano-Suiza, Hurel Hispano (both are Snecma affilitates) and Italy's Avio.

The Franco-Russian protocol governing the venture covers turbofans up to 18,500 lb. thrust and would not grow further to avoid interfering with CFM International's product range. CFMI, a subsidiary of General Electric and Snecma, produces CFM56-series turbofans.

KEY COMPONENTS of the SaM146 will nevertheless rely on CFMI technology. For example, the engine's fan will use solid, swept wide-chord blades developed during CFMI's Tech 56 enabling technology program. Similarly, the SaM146's low-pressure turbine will draw extensively on CFM56 know-how while the six-stage high-pressure compressor and single-stage high-pressure turbine will be based on Snecma Moteurs' Dem 21 technology demonstrator that contributed to the Franco-Russian engine's definition. Experience acquired through the Dem 21 and CFM-inspired components should facilitate the program's tight development schedule--a prerequisite for Sukhoi's ultimate goal to begin delivering RRJs by July 2007.

Snecma developed the Dem 21 technology demonstrator in 2001-02 to help extend its commercial product range. Powering the RRJ and China's ARJ21, developed by Avic 1, were Snecma's primary goals in a rapidly expanding market. The demonstrator, which was first tested in mid-2002, has a six-stage high-pressure combustor and single-stage high-pressure turbine that paved the way for the SaM146. China rejected the Franco-Russian proposal, while Sukhoi selected the SaM146 in April 2003. Avic 1 preferred General Electric's submission.

According to PowerJet's preliminary worksharing arrangement, NPO Saturn will have test and final assembly responsibility for the SaM146. It will also develop and produce the engine's core, accessories and control systems. Snecma Moteurs will be the propulsion system integrator and build the low-pressure compressor and fan.

The Franco-Russian program is facilitated by the use of common computer-assisted development software provided by Dassault Systemes and Unigraphics, a French executive says. First engine runs are scheduled for September 2005, using a $20-million test bench that's being completed near Rybinsk.

Sales teams are currently talking to regional carriers in Russia and Europe, while Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam representatives have joined Sukhoi's airline advisory board. Members of the three alliances are considered potential RRJ customers.

In the longer term, PowerJet is expected to seek additional applications for its turbofan--for example, enhanced derivatives of in-production Bombardier and Embraer twinjets. "But this couldn't happen until 10 years from now," a joint-venture official acknowledges. However, PowerJet is not expected to offer Bombardier proposals to power the 110-135-seat C series twinjets, which are tentatively scheduled to enter service in 2010. The required thrust range would instead be part of CFMI's scope.

RYBINSK-BASED NPO Saturn, Russia's most flourishing propulsion group, employs 23,000 people, 42% of whom work in aircraft-engine units. Its product range includes AL-31F-series engines that power Su-27/Su-35 fighters. Snecma, which was partly privatized recently, is Europe's second biggest aerospace propulsion group, behind Rolls-Royce.