Rolls-Royce Finalises Contract for Additional Adour-Powered Hawks for India

(July 28, 2010) -- Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has finalised the contract for the order of an additional 57 Adour-powered Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

The Rolls-Royce engine contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is worth up to GBP200 million and includes the first Adour engines for the Indian Navy, which will operate 17 of the aircraft.

The BAE Systems Hawk will be powered by the Mk871 variant of the Adour which will be assembled in Bangalore, India, in partnership with HAL.

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak said: "Rolls-Royce has been our trusted partner since 1956, when HAL started producing the Orpheus engine, under licence. Since then the partnership has flourished on programmes like the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer's Adour Mk871 engine, following on from the production of Adour Mk811 engines for the Jaguar.

"Once again, we are proud to partner with Rolls-Royce on a programme where India's next-generation pilots will train on Advanced Jet Trainers powered by Adour engines, which the two companies will co-produce."

Chris Awde, Rolls-Royce Sales and Commercial Director - Defence, said: "This follow-on order for the Adour engine is a huge vote of confidence, both for the capabilities of the engine and the partnership we have developed with HAL for over 50 years.

"This new fleet of Adour engines will bring many advantages to the Indian Air Force and Navy. Pilots will benefit as the engine's performance and handling make it ideally suited to training, while operating the Adour in the Hawk and the Jaguar will continue to bring commonality benefits and savings.

"India is strategically important to Rolls-Royce and we will continue to look at new programmes that expand our partnership in the future."

The Adour Mk871 shares a high degree of commonality with the Adour Mk811 that powers the Indian Air Force Jaguar fleet.

The Adour engine has been developed by the joint venture company Rolls-Royce Turbomeca.

Source : Rolls-Royce Plc (LSE: RR.L) - click here for more information