Turbomeca will power the 322 twin-engine UH-145 helicopters the U.S. Army has ordered from EADS North America. In total, 644 Arriel 1E2s will be delivered over the next eight years. The 738-shp engine is the same as that of the Eurocopter EC 145, of which the UH-145 is a derivative.
All engines will be assembled and tested at the Turbomeca USA facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. The company is adding 67,000 sq ft to its existing building.It is simultaneously qualifying U.S. suppliers to have at least 65 percent of U.S. engine content within three years. Four Arriel 1E2 engines will be delivered in 2006. The production rate will ramp up to 80 to 100 engines a year.