SAFRAN SELECTED BY BELL TO PROVIDE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION FOR U.S. ARMY’S FLRAA PROGRAM

Safran Electrical & Power announced that it has signed an agreement with Bell Textron Inc. to provide the starter-generation systems for the U.S. Army’s new Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program.

Safran will supply an advanced high-voltage starter-generator system, capable of producing the power to meet the evolving electrical needs of military aircraft. This system will feature a high-speed rotor and advanced power electronics providing excellent control and reliability. The design, development and qualification will take place at the Safran Electrical & Power centers of excellence located in Twinsburg, Ohio, and Sarasota, Florida.

The FLRAA configuration is a tiltrotor with the hybrid capability of a helicopter for vertical take-off and landing, plus the range and speed of a twin turboprop aircraft.

“We are thrilled that Bell has selected our high-voltage starter-generator as a single source to equip their innovative FLRAA platform. This new agreement is a mark of confidence and strengthens decades of relationship with Bell on both commercial and military helicopters,” said Joshua Haury, General Manager of Twinsburg plant, Safran Electrical & Power. “Such high-voltage starter-generation system will become an industry standard for future military programs.,” added Bruno Bellanger, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Power division, Safran Electrical & Power.