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The Airframer Bulletin

Safran Helicopter Engines
All news ✕ Clear ‹ Current edition

Every Bulletin story and press release covering Safran Helicopter Engines, newest first.

121 items · page 1 of 3

2026
2 September Civil applications under consideration include offshore transport, utility missions and VVIP transport.

HAL and Safran finalise Aravalli engine deal

The turboshaft engine in the 3,500 to 4,000 shp class has been selected to power Hindustan Aeronautics' IMRH and DBMRH helicopters.

14 August

ReleaseAirbus awarded $115 million U.S. Army contract to modernise the UH-72 Lakota fleet

6 August The Arriel 2K completed ground testing at Safran's Bordes site in southwest France.

Safran's Arriel 2K wins EASA certification for AW09

The engine powering Leonardo's AW09 has completed EASA certification after more than 4,100 hours of testing, including over 600 hours in flight.

27 July

ReleaseSafran and AURA AERO are strengthening their strategic partnership for the development of the turbogenerators that will power the ERA hybrid electric regional aircraft

22 July

ReleaseSikorsky and Safran Helicopter Engines expand strategic collaboration at Farnborough International Air Show

21 July

ReleaseElectra to usher in the next era of aviation with advanced production facility in Springfield, Ohio

15 July

ReleaseElectra and Safran reach development and production agreement for TG600 turbogenerator to power EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft

11 June

ReleaseSafran, MTU and Avio Aero welcome EU support for SHARP project focusing on technologies for next-gen helicopter engines

10 June Airbus sees future roles for the U145 spanning logistics, firefighting, surveillance and drone mothership operations.

Airbus unveils autonomous helicopter derived from H145

The uncrewed platform combines a proven helicopter design with autonomous technology and has its first flight planned later this year.

9 April Engine nacelles for the LEAP-1A on the A320neo final assembly line.

Daher expands Safran logistics role with European contracts

Operations in Germany and France will support aircraft production and maintenance, with focus on rapid spare parts delivery near Paris.

12 March Mathilde Royer-Germain, head of strategy and sustainability at Airbus Helicopters, Bruno Guimbal, chief executive officer of Hélicoptères Guimbal, and Cédric Goubet, chief executive officer of Safran Helicopter Engines.

Guimbal launches the GrandCabri G5

The five-seat helicopter was revealed at Verticon 2026 and will use Safran’s Arrius 2D engine to bridge the gap between piston trainers and larger turbine aircraft.

2025
18 November

ReleaseRobinson Helicopter and Safran Helicopter Engines confirm R88 progress in aircraft development and serenity support package at European Rotors

31 July The first prototype will conduct firing campaigns from 2026 while a second will undergo environmental tests.

First H160M Guepard flight is key step for French Armed Forces

Airbus carried out the maiden test flight using a dedicated crew and began preparations for weapon and environmental trials.

21 July

ReleaseAt AIAA Aviation Forum, Flexcompute and Robinson Helicopter announce CFD partnership for all-new R88 helicopter

18 June

ReleaseA French aerospace consortium launches an initiative to develop hybrid-electric propulsion for general aviation

18 June

ReleaseAvio Aero partners with Safran and MTU Aero Engines to power Europe’s next generation of military helicopters

13 March The Robinson R88 features optional high skids for enhanced ground clearance and utility applications.

Robinson goes large with ten-seat R88 helicopter

The R88, Robinson’s largest helicopter, will feature a 950 shaft horsepower Safran engine and a fully integrated service package.

12 March The first aircraft is already undergoing flight tests at Airbus’ Donauwörth facility.

Larger and quieter Airbus H140 set for 2028 service

The H140 will feature a Safran Arrius 2E engine, a five-blade rotor system and Helionix avionics for improved performance and efficiency.

2024
5 September The contract was signed by The contract was signed by S Anbuvelan, CEO (Helicopter Complex), HAL, and Olivier Savin, Director, SAFHAL Helicopter Engines and EVP, OEM Sales and Marketing, Safran Helicopter Engines and S K Mehta, Director, SAFHAL Helicopter Engines and Executive Director (Finance), HAL.

HAL selects SAFHAL to develop and produce Aravalli engine

Safran has been HAL's partner of choice for powering its helicopters, starting with the Artouste engines used in Cheetah and Chetak, followed by Shakti engine and its variants powering the ALH, LCH and LUH.

17 July Dr. Markus Zeis, Head of Enablement, Dr. Silke Maurer, COO, Lars Wagner, CEO, Stefan Hertling, Head of Production, and Thomas Frank, Head of Corporate Quality.

MTU steps up turbine disk manufacturing in Munich

Three production areas – disk manufacturing, coating, and disk testing – result in significant process improvements, shorter processing times (by up to 50 percent), and savings of up to a third of previous costs.

26 June

Safran and MTU pair up to power nextgen military helicopters

The joint-venture will focus on the development of a new heavy helicopter engine to power the next generation of European military helicopters, scheduled to enter into service by 2040.

28 May

ReleaseSafran's Aneto-1K helicopter engine certified in China

1 May

The fast and frugal Racer takes to the air

The aircraft flew for about 30 minutes, allowing the flight test team to check its overall behaviour. The Racer builds upon the aerodynamic configuration validated by the Airbus Helicopters X3 technology demonstrator.

2023
19 July The IMRH (Indian Multi-Role Helicopter) will be powered by Safran/HAL engines.

Safran and HAL land on Bangalore for engine factory

This joint venture will be India's first domestic engine design and manufacturing capability, and will work on the country's future 13-ton IMRH (Indian Multi-Role Helicopter) and naval version.

22 June

ReleaseSafran expands its partnership with AURA AERO for the hybrid-electric propulsion of the ERA aircraft

21 June

ReleaseSafran signs agreement with Electra to develop turbogenerator for the propulsion of its hybrid-electric aircraft

20 June

ReleaseSafran and MTU Aero Engines team up to pave the way for a European engine anticipating the next-generation military helicopter

19 June

ReleaseSafran validates Eco Mode helicopter hybrid propulsion concept

17 March

ReleaseLeonardo AW09 PS4 prototype performs first flight

23 February Celebrating the first run of the Tech TP ACHIEVE hybrid electric turboprop demonstrator.

Safran celebrates ground run of 'more electric' turboprop

By 2025 HE-ART, which brings together 38 partners with Safran Helicopter Engines as technical coordinator, plans to ground test a hybrid electric propulsion engine intended for regional turboprop aircraft.

16 February

HAL shares development of Safran's engine for IMRH

The two companies are building closer cooperation which will also include the manufacturing of seven critical forging and casting raw parts for the Shakti engine of Dhruv and the Light Combat Helicopter.

2 February

Leonardo's AW09 is set to fly with Safran's Arriel 2K

The new propulsion system is already installed on the latest AW09 prototype, PS4 (Pre Series 4), which is about to start flight test activities at Kopter’s facility in Mollis.

2022
13 July The Indian Multi Role Helicopter.

HAL and Safran combine in JV to develop new engines

With a fleet of over 1,000 engines, India's Armed Forces are one of the largest operators of Safran-designed helicopter engines. A new JV will further boost that number into the future.

22 June All Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopters are certified to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF.

Sustainable aviation fuel goes solo aboard the H225

This milestone follows the flight of an H225 with one SAF-powered Makila 2 engine in November 2021, and is part of the flight campaign aimed at understanding the impact of SAF use on the helicopter's systems.

9 March

ReleaseSafran and Bell to collaborate on sustainable aviation fuel initiative for Bell 505

19 January Safran will provide engines and other equipment on H160M and H160 helicopters for the French armed forces and Gendarmerie.

Safran chalks up diverse involvement in the H160M

Designed, built and supported in France, Arrano engines will power the French armed forces' Leopard helicopter. Safran will also supply a range of other systems and components for the program.

2021
29 September Piaggio Aerospace and Safran Helicopter Engines already collaborate on the RTM322 and Aneto engine families, for the production of hot section parts of the engines.

Piaggio and Safran agree to produce the Ardiden 3

The Ardiden 3 is a core engine in the 1,700 to 2,000 shaft horsepower range. With two EASA-certified models it features compact modular architecture, a high power to weight ratio and a low cost of ownership.

12 July

ReleaseSafran Arrano 1A obtains FAA certification

14 April

ReleaseThe Racer programme reaches cruise speed

2019
12 December

ReleaseEASA certifies Safran Aneto-1K in Leonardo AW189K

8 November

ReleaseSafran Ardiden 1U helicopter engine obtains EASA certification

10 October

ReleaseSafran and AECC introduce the WZ16, the first jointly-developed aero engine to be certified in China

23 September

ReleaseSafran joins team to design new turboprop for European unmanned applications

20 June

ReleaseSafran accelerates the development of modeling tools for contact mechanics applications

20 June

ReleaseKAI and Safran signed a strategic partnership

19 June

ReleaseAirbus Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines team up for greener vertical flight

18 June

ReleaseSafran unveils Add+, an engine demonstrator built using 30% 3D-printed components

18 June

ReleaseFirst ground run of Tech TP turboprop demonstrator

5 March

ReleaseArriel 2H now ready for service in China

7 January

ReleaseBell unveils full-scale design of air taxi at CES 2019