Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited was a British-French aerospace joint venture responsible for developing, manufacturing and supporting the Adour turbofan and RTM322 turboshaft engines.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited, commonly abbreviated RRTM, was a joint venture between Rolls-Royce plc of the United Kingdom and Turbomeca of France, now known as Safran Helicopter Engines. The venture combined Rolls-Royce's experience in military and civil aero-engine design with Turbomeca's specialization in helicopter propulsion. Its principal activities covered the development, production and support of two engine families: the Adour afterburning turbofan and the RTM322 turboshaft. The Adour originated during the definition of the SEPECAT Jaguar, a British-French ground-attack aircraft. Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca established a partnership to create an engine suitable for the Jaguar's requirements, including afterburning performance for supersonic operation. The resulting powerplant became a major international military engine. In addition to the Jaguar, Adour variants powered the BAE Systems Hawk trainer and light combat aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk naval trainer, Japan's Mitsubishi T-2 trainer and the Mitsubishi F-1 ground-attack aircraft. More than 2,800 Adour engines were ultimately produced, and the type accumulated millions of flight hours across its operators. The second major programme was the RTM322, a turboshaft engine developed for medium and heavy helicopters. In 1995, the engine was selected for the British Army's fleet of AgustaWestland Apache attack helicopters, replacing the General Electric T700 used by earlier Apache versions. The selection gave the RTM322 a significant military launch customer and created an opportunity for the engine to compete internationally for other rotorcraft applications. It was subsequently associated with the NHIndustries NH90, the AgustaWestland AW101 and other helicopter platforms, as well as the Eurocopter X3 high-speed technology demonstrator. The RTM322 was designed with potential for future power growth. During the early 2000s, the joint venture worked on enhanced versions intended to raise output from approximately 2,400 shaft horsepower to more than 2,500 shaft horsepower, with longer-term development potential discussed at approximately 3,300 shaft horsepower. These improvements reflected the needs of helicopter operators flying in hot-and-high conditions, where additional engine power can improve payload, safety margins and performance. The structure of the venture changed substantially in 2013, when Turbomeca agreed to acquire Rolls-Royce's interest in the RTM322 programme for approximately €293 million. Responsibility for manufacturing, maintenance and related services was progressively transferred to Turbomeca over the following years. The transition involved the staged migration of maintenance and repair work, the development of testing capability and the reorganization of supply-chain and manufacturing activities. As a result, Turbomeca assumed sole responsibility for the RTM322 programme, while the Adour remained the other major engine associated with the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca partnership. Public reference material does not clearly establish the venture's current legal status or whether the brand continues as a separate operating entity.
History
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca was created through cooperation between Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca during the development of the SEPECAT Jaguar. The two companies sought to produce an afterburning turbofan that could meet the requirements of a supersonic ground-attack aircraft. The resulting Adour engine became the venture's first major programme and was later adapted for several military aircraft. Adour-powered aircraft included the SEPECAT Jaguar, the BAE Systems Hawk, the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk, the Mitsubishi T-2 and the Mitsubishi F-1. Its broad adoption made the engine an important example of Anglo-French industrial cooperation in military aerospace. More than 2,800 Adour engines were produced, with the fleet accumulating approximately seven million flight hours according to the cited reference material. The venture subsequently developed the RTM322 turboshaft for helicopters. A major commercial and military breakthrough came in 1995, when the British Army selected the engine for its AgustaWestland Apache attack helicopters. The decision gave the RTM322 a prominent launch application and positioned it as an alternative to the General Electric T700. The engine was later used or evaluated for several other rotorcraft, including the NHIndustries NH90, the AgustaWestland AW101 and the Eurocopter X3 technology demonstrator. The RTM322 incorporated scope for future power increases. In 2003, the partners described work on enhanced versions that would raise output beyond the approximately 2,400-shaft-horsepower level of the then-current engine. The stated rationale included the growing importance of hot-and-high performance, in which greater available power can support payload and operational capability. In 2013, Turbomeca and Rolls-Royce reached an agreement under which Turbomeca bought Rolls-Royce's involvement in the RTM322 programme for approximately €293 million. The transfer did not occur as a single operational switch. Over the subsequent several years, Turbomeca progressively assumed maintenance and repair work, established or expanded testing capability, reorganized the supply chain and internalized manufacturing activities previously performed by Rolls-Royce. By the middle of the 2010s, Turbomeca had taken sole responsibility for RTM322 manufacturing-related activities and associated support. Available material does not provide enough information to determine the joint venture's present legal or commercial status as a standalone entity.
- 2013
RTM322 programme transfer agreed
[1]Turbomeca agreed to acquire Rolls-Royce's interest in the RTM322 programme for approximately €293 million.
- 2003
RTM322 qualified for UK Ministry of Defence use
[1]The initial RTM322 version was qualified for use by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
- 1995
RTM322 selected for British Apache fleet
[1]The British Army selected the RTM322 to power its AgustaWestland Apache attack helicopters.
Adour partnership formed
[1]Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca formed the cooperation that produced the Adour afterburning turbofan for the SEPECAT Jaguar programme.
Adour enters wider military service
[1]Adour variants were adopted for the Jaguar, Hawk, T-45 Goshawk, Mitsubishi T-2 and Mitsubishi F-1 aircraft families.
Turbomeca completed RTM322 responsibility transition
[1]Over the years following the 2013 agreement, Turbomeca progressively assumed RTM322 maintenance, testing, supply-chain and manufacturing responsibilities.
Products and positioning
A specialist aerospace propulsion partnership focused on military aircraft and helicopter engines, combining British and French engineering, manufacturing and support capabilities.
Afterburning turbofan engine
Adour
The Adour is an afterburning turbofan developed through British-French cooperation for the SEPECAT Jaguar. It was subsequently adapted for several military aircraft, including the BAE Systems Hawk, McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk, Mitsubishi T-2 and Mitsubishi F-1. More than 2,800 engines were produced, and the type accumulated approximately seven million flight hours according to the cited reference material.
Helicopter turboshaft engine
RTM322
The RTM322 is a turboshaft engine developed for military and medium-lift helicopter applications. It powered the British Army's AgustaWestland Apache fleet and was also associated with the NHIndustries NH90, AgustaWestland AW101 and Eurocopter X3. The engine was designed with capacity for increased power, supporting improved helicopter operations in hot-and-high environments. Following the 2013 agreement, Turbomeca progressively took sole responsibility for its manufacture and support activities.
Brand decisions
2013
Transfer the RTM322 programme to TurbomecaM&ABackground
Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca agreed to change the ownership and operating responsibilities for the RTM322 programme.
Action taken
Turbomeca bought Rolls-Royce's involvement for approximately €293 million and began a staged transfer of manufacturing, maintenance, testing and supply-chain activities.
Aftermath
By the middle of the 2010s, Turbomeca had assumed sole responsibility for the RTM322 programme's manufacturing-related work and associated services.
Transaction value. Approximately €293 million (2013)
2003
Develop higher-power RTM322 variantsGeneration changeBackground
Helicopter operators were placing greater emphasis on performance in hot-and-high conditions, increasing demand for available engine power.
Action taken
The joint venture pursued an enhanced RTM322 version above the existing approximately 2,400-shaft-horsepower range, with additional longer-term growth potential.
Aftermath
The development strategy was intended to extend the engine's operating capability and competitiveness across future rotorcraft applications.
1995
Secure the British Army Apache engine selectionProduct launchBackground
The RTM322 was competing for a major helicopter application against the General Electric T700, the established engine on previous Apache variants.
Action taken
The British Army selected the RTM322 for its AgustaWestland Apache attack-helicopter fleet.
Aftermath
The selection provided the RTM322 with a significant operational reference customer and supported subsequent interest in other helicopter programmes.
Recent events
- 2013
Turbomeca acquired Rolls-Royce's RTM322 programme interest[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Turbomeca agreed to buy Rolls-Royce's involvement in the RTM322 programme for approximately €293 million, beginning a multi-year transfer of manufacturing and support responsibilities.
- 2003
Initial RTM322 version qualified for the UK Ministry of Defence[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The initial RTM322 configuration achieved qualification for use by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
- 2003
Enhanced RTM322 development announced[1]
Product generation · Product launch
The joint venture announced development work on higher-power RTM322 variants intended to improve helicopter performance, particularly in hot-and-high operating conditions.
- 1995
RTM322 selected for British Army Apache helicopters[1]
Product launch · Other
The RTM322 turboshaft was selected to power the British Army's AgustaWestland Apache attack-helicopter fleet, displacing the General Electric T700 used in earlier Apache versions.
Sources1 sources
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