MP demands answers from Ministry of Defence over key military helicopter engine contract

DEFENCE chiefs are being urged to break their silence about whether an engineering firm has bagged a key contract to fix military helicopters.
By Tom Cotterill
Published 9th Jul 2020, 15:03 BST
Updated 9th Jul 2020, 15:15 BST
Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond, right, has written to the MoD about the future of a contract for Whiteley-based firm Safran to fix military helicopter engines. Mrs Drummond is pictured with Nick Earl, chief executive of Safran.Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond, right, has written to the MoD about the future of a contract for Whiteley-based firm Safran to fix military helicopter engines. Mrs Drummond is pictured with Nick Earl, chief executive of Safran.
Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond, right, has written to the MoD about the future of a contract for Whiteley-based firm Safran to fix military helicopter engines. Mrs Drummond is pictured with Nick Earl, chief executive of Safran.

Whiteley-based company Safran, in Concorde Way, holds the contract to maintain the RTM322 engines, which power the Merlin and Apache helicopters used by the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the army.

The firm’s chief executive, Nick Earl, had hoped to receive an answer in June over whether his company would secure the work again.

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But so far, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has remained quiet about the tender.

Now, Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond has stepped in to demand answers from the government.

Championing Safran, the Tory MP has written to defence procurement minister Jeremy Quin calling for clarity.

In her letter, Mrs Drummond wrote: ‘Safran employs a large number of skilled workers in Meon Valley, and has links to a number of other firms in my constituency in the supply chain.

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‘I am sure you will understand that I share Safran’s interest in understanding what stage the MoD’s decision-making process has reached. Naturally, I hope MoD will agree that Safran provides excellent and innovative support to the RTM322, and that this engine continues to be the logical choice.

‘Therefore, can I ask you if it would be possible for the MoD to give Safran an indication of when they can expect news of the status of their tender?’

The RTM322 was developed by Safran under its previous Turbomeca branding, jointly with Rolls-Royce and it has maintained the engines throughout their service life to date.

The company employs 165 people and was recently judged to be the ‘World’s Best Helicopter Engine Manufacturer’ by Vertical magazine, the industry journal.

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Mrs Drummond visited the company last week to discuss the tender.

She added: ‘This is a company at the cutting-edge of its industry. It supports a wide range of customers for their engines and ancillary equipment, and I was impressed by its advanced facilities and skilled group of employees.

‘I was also very happy to support the company and make my view known to the Ministry of Defence that I feel Safran is best placed to continue to maintain these engines for our armed forces.’

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