Safran Arrano
| Company type | Turboshaft engine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | February 2014 (initial bench test) |
| Headquarters | Bordes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques , France |
| Products | Turboshaft engines for helicopters |
The Safran Arrano is a turboshaft engine engineered by Safran Helicopter Engines to equip single-engine helicopters weighing between two and three tons, as well as twin-engine helicopters ranging from four to six tons, producing .
Development
The engine underwent its initial bench test in February 2014 at Bordes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Its thermodynamic core is based on the Clean Sky Tech 800 demonstrator, which was evaluated in April 2013. The Arrano powers the Airbus Helicopters H160, which completed its first flight in Marignane on 27 January 2016.
By October 2017, testing had reached 4,000 hours on the ground and 700 hours in flight. Early production models were planned for release in early 2018, with the H160 expected to enter operational service in 2019. The test program included assessments of blade-out capability, operation without lubrication, altitude trials conducted in 2016 at Saclay, and endurance tests scheduled for 2017 to facilitate certification.
As of October 2018, the program had accumulated a total of 7,500 hours—comprising 1,500 flight hours—with certification testing approaching completion and documentation anticipated to be submitted before year-end.
The Arrano obtained its type certification at the June 2019 Paris Air Show. EASA certification for the H160 was targeted for the fourth quarter of 2019, with initial delivery to a U.S. corporate transport client planned for May 2020.
Design
This engine achieves a reduction in brake specific fuel consumption by 10 to 15 percent relative to earlier models, thereby improving the payload-range capabilities of new helicopter designs. Its compact architecture facilitates simplified maintenance and repair processes. Efficiency during cruise is enhanced through a thermodynamic cycle incorporating variable-pitch inlet guide vanes positioned above the compressor. The production process utilizes direct metal laser sintering technology for serial manufacturing of the combustion chamber injectors.