Propulsion System for Next Generation Rotorcrafts Grant

Specific Objective

• The objective of this research topic is to better understand and analyse the future needs EU Members States and EDF Associated Countries and the transition to future rotorcraft features, concepts, and capabilities, and to derive specific design parameters for next generation propulsion systems. Conception and pre-design of an alternative propulsion system for rotorcraft platforms must be performed.
• There are currently no civil applications for a turboshaft engine in the considered EU Next Generation Rotorcraft (ENGR) power range. Hence, there is a need to develop new relevant technological bricks for a European high-power engine.
• Indeed, the development of a new engine may be longer than for a new rotorcraft. It is therefore needed to work on both topics simultaneously and in a consistent manner so that effects of the engine are considered in the rotorcraft architecture and vice versa.

Funding Information

• The estimated available call budget is EUR 25000000.
• Project duration: between 12 and 48 months.

Eligible Activities

• Accordingly, the proposals must cover at least the following tasks as part of mandatory activities:
  • Generating knowledge:
    • Identification of hybridisation concepts that brings benefit to a rotorcraft (for example: micro-hybridisation, series hybridisation, parallel hybridisation, etc.)
    • Identify new generation of materials for rotorcraft engines applications.
    • Study on artificial intelligence (AI) for engine control and monitoring.
    • Integrating knowledge:
    • Preparation of technological and integration solutions for next generation propulsion system for rotorcraft platforms for military applications. These should be produced, developed, and manufactured with the objective of ensuring EU sovereignty and providing optimal performance and reliability for the targeted wide-range applications.
    • Possibilities to integrate technological developments developed through other civil or military projects for a propulsion system with a reduced environmental footprint, through hybridisation solutions and operation with new Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), but also allowing more autonomous operation.
  • Studies:
    • Maturation of technologies to achieve specific performance (aerodynamic, thermal, regulation system, potential hybridisation, or electrification of propulsion, etc.) at an affordable cost and easy to maintain.
    • Scalability and dissemination of the results into other products and in various types of aircraft and/or platforms.
    • Study of an engine design adapted to a variable-speed rotor helicopter.
    • Study on improved engine & fleet management and on concepts for adapting civil engine fleet management systems on military applications for improved availability and reduced life cycle costs (LCC).
    • Cost-benefit analysis and forecast of effects on maintenance-effort for each technology.
    • wide usage of 3-D-printed components and novel manufacturing processes associated with innovative repair solutions.
  • Design:
    • Design of a propulsion system for rotorcraft platforms that fulfils the requirements mentioned herein.
    • Possibility to perform real-time engine monitoring, trouble shooting and predictive performance and maintenance in deployed operations with remote assistance through virtual reality, augmented reality tools by using a digital twin and AI-based prediction tools. Troubleshooting, predictive performance and maintenance should also be operative offline for some specific operations when external communication is not allowed or not possible.
    • Design an engine with very simple and lean maintenance: Highly connected engine with data-driven services for highly predictive maintenance and condition-based maintenance.
    • Extended life for engine components and equipment.
    • Standardisation and significant reduction of parts, devices, and modules.
    • Any other solution that must contribute to optimise lifecycle costs, such as advanced fuel, control, and monitoring systems, that includes new fuel pump technology to provide increased fuel flow, higher accuracy of the fuel metering system to deliver the required performance (unprecedented power density, responsiveness…) and new control laws to deal with a hybrid-electric propulsion system.
• In addition, the proposals may also cover the following tasks:
  • Study of the technologies developed in the frame of this call, as they may also benefit other propulsion solutions and different rotorcraft applications.

Expected Outcomes

• The outcome should contribute to:
  • Versatile European propulsion system to fulfil the increasing systems power demand.
  • Affordable propulsive system such as cost competitive for the whole life cycle.
  • Robust and reliable system with good maintainability, even when operating in harsh environments.
  • Easy to maintain and repair such as supported by predictive maintenance tools (digital twin) and 3D intuitive documentation and instructions for maintenance crews.
  • Sovereign European propulsive solution for new rotorcraft applications.
  • Reinforce the EU sovereignty and independence on these strategic platforms through the strengthening of the EU supply chain and integration of EU Member States’ and EDF Associated Countries’ system capabilities and provide a product free from export control restrictions by non-EU or non-EDF Associated countries.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible, all applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must cumulatively:
  • Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • Be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • Non-EU countries:
      • Listed EEA countries (‘EDF associated countries’; list of participating countries)
  • Have their executive management structure established in eligible countries
  • Not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or non-associated third-country entity (unless they can provide guarantees – approved by the Member State or EDF associated country where they are established)

For more information, visit European Commission.