@DESERT FIGHTER you changed your signature dude?
gotta say that I resent it
for the record I still think choosing EJ200 for this project was a huge mistake
You might take a look.
2015-06-11
Eurojet willing to Play a Major Role in TFX Programme
Mr. Clemens Linden, CEO of Eurojet enlightened us about their approach and cutting-edge solutions to TFX Programme
Defence Turkey: Mr. Linden, first of all thank you very much for this Interview. Could you please inform us about Eurojet?
Eurojet (Eurojet Turbo GmbH) is a military aerospace engine consortium that was setup in 1986 to manage all aspects of the EJ200 project for the core nation’s programme and to provide the engines for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, from the earliest development right through to the current Tranche III production. It was set up as a joint venture by its shareholders: Rolls-Royce (UK), MTU Aero Engines (Germany), ITP (Spain), and Avio Aero (Italy).Each of these companies has a percentage workshare in the core programme, providing the engines for their own respective nation’s airforces.
Since then, Eurojet has gone on to deliver well over 1,000 production engines and exploring the export market, Eurojet has won contracts together with the Typhoon in Austria, Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. The engine is already in service in the Air Force fleets of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaand has racked up more than 550,000 engine flying hours with these 6 air forces fleets. The engines for the third export nation, the Sultanate of Oman, are due for delivery next year.
Defence Turkey: How do you assess Eurojet’s position in 2014?
Through the operation data with the six fleets currently operating the EJ200 (the Air Forces of the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria and Saudi Arabia), we have achieved some very impressive numbers. In addition to the flying hour figure I already mentioned, the EJ200 has an average on-wing time of 1100 EFH and the fleet leader in the RAF has achieved over 1800 flying hours. The in-flight shut down rates are alsofar belowthe challenging specification target. Added to that, the mean time between engine removals is significantlybetter than specification and the reliability figures are close on 100%. That makes for pretty impressive results.
That said, Eurojet is currently in a position where the production for the core programme is gradually drawing to a closewhilst we are deep in the in-service phase. Traditionally, the EJ200 has been linked with the Eurofighter Typhoon and our growth beyond the core nation’s programme was largely linked to the export customers that the Eurofighter was able to add to its belt. We at Eurojet firmly believe, however, that it is time to expand the EJ200 beyond the Typhoon. It is such a truly remarkable product that could be used to power a number of different fighter applications and that is the direction that we are now looking towards with increasing importance.
Defence Turkey: Could you please enlighten us about your EJ200 engine?
As a 4.5 generation engine, the EJ200 is an attractive contender for a number of combat aircraft projects as it is perfectly set to meet the demands of a forward-thinking air force.Essentially, it is a low bypass ratio turbofan with a thrust augmentation system, and consists of an eight-stage compression system, with single turbine stageseach forthe high-pressure and low-pressure spool. Each engine provides 20,000lbf thrust in reheat making it the ideal engine for a twin fighter aircraft application, which I believe would be the best choice for the TFX. A twin-engine aircraft offers several significant advantages; it can achieve much higher thrust, increased safety for both pilot and airframe, has a higher growth potential, increased reliability and enables a larger aircraft size with more range and better performance, amongst others.
The EJ200 power plant features high-end compressor technology and, including its reheat system, it is about 4 metres long with a dry weight just under 1,000 kg and the lowest possible diameter for its thrust class. It achieves a noteworthy thrust-to-weight ratio of close to 10:1 and offers the best thrust retention.
Having outperformed the specifications from day one, it has also remained relatively unchanged. This equates to a mature product that is ready to operate, effective and trusted, but which also still offers full capability and maximum potential for growth.
Defence Turkey: Eurojet is a strong candidate for Turkish TFX Programme. How do you assess your position in this programme among the competitors? What are the technological competences of your engine?
Eurojet considers the EJ200 to be well suited to the TFX project and we believe that the Turkish stakeholders have a genuine interest in the EJ200 and bringing its capabilities to Turkey. Eurojet is engaged in developing strong relationships within Turkey and turning its attention to the requirements of the TFX programme. Of course, we know that we are up against the biggest engine manufacturers in the world but we believe in our product. Put simply, the engine delivers consistent, reliable performance and an outstanding availability rate when it matters most.
Globally, we are in a competitive marketplace and we can’t concern ourselves with what our competitors may or may not be doing. All we can do is concentrate on making sure the benefits of the EJ200 are understood and recognised. But what we all believe is that in the EJ200 we have an extremely reliable product that has proved itself over the past decade in Typhoon.
Not only that, the maintenance concept for the EJ200 is one of the most advanced in existence as it offers ‘on-condition’ maintenance and removes the requirement for the scheduled overhaul that other engine types must undergo. Together with the Executive Lifing approach, which measures actual usage instead of planned mission profiles, the EJ200 can stay on wing without scheduled maintenance for much longer and this in turn contributes to the up to 50% Life Cycle Cost savings achievable with the engine.
To give a run-down of just some of the technological advances in the EJ200, I should mention that the wide-chord Low Pressure Compressor has integrally bladed discs (bliscs) that are light and aerodynamically efficient and possess a high level of resistance to foreign object damage. The advanced aerodynamics allows optimum operation without the need for inlet guide vanes.
In addition, both the Low Pressure Compressor (3 stages) and High Pressure Compressor (5 stages) are driven by single-stage advanced air-cooled turbines, featuring the latest single crystal blade technology and operating at temperatures which are 300° Kelvin above those of previous generation engines. Engine brush seals are widely used rather than labyrinth seals in the air system. The annular combustor, incorporating air spray fuel injectors, has been designed for extremely low smoke and emission levels.
The reheat system features radial hot stream burners, independent cold stream burning ensuring continuous smooth modulation and high efficiency and durability. The engine also features a convergent/divergent nozzle to provide optimum performance in the whole flight envelope. The Digital Engine Control and Monitoring Unit (DECMU) is a 2-lane FADEC integrated with engine health and life monitoring functionalities that provide carefree handling, optimised health monitoring and reduced maintenance effort. All these latest military engine technologies will be accessible to Turkey, should the EJ200 be selected for the TFX programme.
Defence Turkey: Could you please inform us about your studies for an improved EJ200?
Today’s EJ200 engine is the first batch of the production engines and up until now we have not carried out any upgrades because the EJ200 has consistently outperformed its specifications and there has been no requirement from the current customers. This leaves lots of room for future enhancements, because the growth potential designed into the engine from the outset has not been used up until now. Therefore we have a very solid base line from which there is great growth potential based on the modern design of the EJ200 in conjunction with the unmatched in-service reliability.
Over the past years, he Eurojet consortium has activelyinvested inthe proposition of various technologies related to all the major engine components. These technologies have been brought to a high technology readiness level, which allows insertion into the existing engine with low risk.
For example, a 3D- thrust vectoring nozzle system has been developed and tested with a full scale engine on a sea level static andalso at an altitude test facility.
Selection of the required technologies to be inserted into a growth version of the EJ200 will occur in collaboration with the airframer; this process is required to best meet the airframe requirements concerning thrust and fuel-consumption to achieve an overall optimised platform solution.
Defence Turkey: Aselsan and Eurojet signed a MoU to pave the way for further discussions to explore potential opportunities for business collaboration on Engine Control Units, Health and Usage Monitoring System and software developments projects relating to the EJ200 engineprogram. Could you please inform us about this cooperation in details? After signing the agreement, have any steps taken between two sides?
Aselsan and Eurojet are now in continuous contact and most recently met at IDEF, Istanbul, in May. Areas of collaboration have been discussed under our non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Aselsan and we move forward positively in 2015 with further engagement and greater definition of the projects. Eurojet view this as a great opportunity and one example of how wecan bring the class leading technology of EJ200 and of our Partner Companies into Turkey.
Defence Turkey: What will be your vision for the next decade?
At the moment, the global situation is such that there has been no particular development in the field of the military engines in the 20,000 lb thrust class for some time and I don’t see aircraft projects which would fund a totally new development, howeverI certainly expect demand for technology enhancements to increase and the funds to be made available for such enhancements.
Technology growth via the 5th and 6th generation engine specifications has already been defined and my vision is that these specifications can be treated in effect as a selective growth menu. I see this as an opportunity for the EJ200:those elements of these specifications that offer the most essential attributes to suit the demands of any particular future customer can be selected, for example, thrust growth, low maintenance cost, high life. The EJ200 is by far the most advanced and youngest engine in its group, with the whole scope of growth potentialavailable whichmeans that the customer can define that growth precisely to suit their needs, selecting priorities specifically for the individual platform.Via this approach the airframer can concentrate on the aircraft development and not only the budget and effort that is required for the engine is minimised, but the risk is also.
Defence Turkey: Would you like to add some remarks for Defence Turkey readers?
The best way to assess the success of a product is to listen to the customers that use it on a daily basis. The overwhelming feedback that we get from ourexisting customers is that the EJ200 is the best in the world in its thrust class. Whenever we talk to pilots in the air forces they all say the engine is incredible. They never raise any issues about it; they tend to say they just sit in and start it. It’s easy to handle and it’s carefree and highly reliable. In fact, they are so confident in its reliability that they feel certain that it will not fail them when it matters most – on mission. That’s the consistent feedback we get from the pilots who fly the jet, which is a really great endorsement.
Eurojet would like to bring this experience to a partnership with Turkey, to modify and adapt the EJ200 to suit the Turkish Air Force’s particular requirements and tosupport the development of Turkish industry through localisation.Eurojet is offering Turkey real technology transfer that goes far beyond just a promise. We want that Turkey can be proud of the EJ200 in the TFX and that the Turkish Air Force can be confident that they have the very best engine propelling them forward long into the future.
if the bosses know something truly about choosen FX engine lets listen them =)
will aselsan open new fab for engines (not only ej)
