Safran Helicopter Engines and MTU Aero Engines have signed the cooperation agreement to create the 50/50 joint venture EURA (derived from EUropean Military Rotorcraft Engine Alliance). This newly-created company will form the core of a larger program, which will collaborate with industrial and technological partners from several other European nations. With the creation of EURA, the two companies are taking a further important step towards the joint development of a new 100 per cent European engine for the next generation of European military helicopters.

The signing ceremony took place at the French Embassy in Berlin, in the presence of François Delattre, France's Ambassador to Germany, and Thomas Hitschler, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Defense. By signing the agreement, Cédric Goubet, CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines, and Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer of MTU Aero Engines, commenced another chapter in the long-standing collaboration and partnership between Safran and MTU. The new entity EURA will be based in Bordes (France), Safran Helicopter Engines headquarters, and its CEO will be selected from within MTU.

This exclusive 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. The future engine, which has the ambition of significantly increasing engine efficiency while reducing operating and maintenance costs at the same time, will be particularly well suited to the ENGRT (European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies) project. Outstanding engine characteristics will provide the European Next Generation Rotorcraft with enhanced capabilities such as longer range, higher speed, better maneuverability and higher availability.

The creation of EURA will also encourage a future specific call for military helicopter engines in the European Defence Fund (EDF). Safran Helicopter Engines and MTU Aero Engines, via EURA, would then respond together with a capable consortium of partners.

“EURA is a guarantee of sovereignty for the future military helicopters that Europe and European nations will need,” says Cédric Goubet. “This joint venture will enable us to start developing new technologies such as hybrid-electric propulsion and high-temperature materials, to meet the specifications of future helicopter projects.”

“This future-oriented program for a new 100 per cent European engine marks another milestone in the continent's defense history. It is key to further reinforcing European sovereignty and strengthening the European high-tech supply chain,” comments Michael Schreyögg. “Developing this next-generation engine demands efficient project management and quick and flexible decision-making – which we are now establishing with EURA.”

The finalisation of this cooperation agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2023. Safran and MTU's commitment to power the next generation of European military helicopters complements the companies' existing joint initiative to power the New Generation Fighter within the FCAS program.