Rolls-Royce Demonstrates Middle East Strength At Dubai 2000
Rolls-Royce plc and its international partners have a major presence in the Middle East in both civil aerospace and defence markets, and are demonstrating this at the Dubai 2000 air show this week. The Trent is winning customers throughout the region and Rolls-Royce has nearly 1,000 military engines in service, achieving well over a million operating hours.
In the region's civil aerospace sector, 230 Rolls-Royce powered aircraft are operated by a total of 22 airlines and 37 government and corporate customers. Another 68 aircraft are on order or are retained as options by airline customers.
Emirates, the award-winning United Arab Emirates flag carrier, is an example of an airline that has embraced the derivative approach to engine development created by Rolls-Royce. It operates a fleet of Boeing 777s, powered by the Trent 800 engine and its first 777-300 arrived as the show began. It has also taken the first five of ten Trent 700-powered Airbus A330-200s into service.
It will become the world's first all-Trent powered airline in 2002, when it takes delivery of the first of six Trent 500-powered A340-500 aircraft. Rolls-Royce has an exclusive position on the Airbus A340-500/600 family, with nine customers for 118 aircraft to date. Overall, the Trent has won $15bn of orders, and its share, in markets in which this family of advanced three-shaft engines competes, stands at almost 50 per cent.
Gulf Air celebrated 50 years in operation this year, during which it has received the first four of six Trent 700-powered A330-200s that will operate non-stop routes to Europe and SriLankan has recently taken its first Trent-powered A330. EgyptAir is one of the launch customers for the A340-600 with an order for two firm and two option aircraft, with entry into service scheduled for 2003.
Saudia is a long-standing customer, operating RB211-powered TriStars for many years before taking delivery of the V2500-powered MD-90 single-aisle airliner and various versions of the wide-body Boeing 747, powered by RB211-524 engines.
Air Cairo currently operates three Tu204 aircraft, powered by the RB211-535, which is unique as the only western powerplant selected by Russian airframe maker Tupolev. Two are configured for passenger operation, the other for cargo, and two more aircraft are scheduled to join the fleet this year.
Rolls-Royce has a major defence presence in the region, supporting nearly 1,000 engines operating with several armed forces. These have accumulated well over one million flying hours.
The Royal Saudi Air Force operates a major fleet of RB199-powered Tornado combat aircraft, provided under two stages of the Al Yamamah government-to-government trade deal with the UK.
Adour engines, powering both Jaguar combat aircraft and Hawk trainers, are in service with several air forces including Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Adour also powers the Red Arrows - the Royal Air Force Hawk display team that is appearing at Dubai 2000.
Another large engine fleet is the T56 powering C-130 transport aircraft in most Middle East nations, and Gnome engines power a fleet of around 20 Sea King helicopters in Egypt.
The recommended £576 million offer for Vickers will create a global leader in the marine propulsion market, in which Rolls-Royce has been an acknowledged world leader since powering the world's first all gas turbine warship more than 30 years ago.
Its product range is suitable for both naval vessels, from frigates and destroyers to carriers and replenishment ships, and commercial vessels including the new generation of FastShips - container vessels powered by a marine version of the highly successful Trent engine family.
In the Middle East, the navies of Oman, and the UAE use Rolls-Royce marine equipment in the shape of Olympus and Tyne gas turbines and Crossley Pielstick diesels.
The acquisition of Vickers will add strong brand names in propulsion, diesel engines, deck machinery, marine technology and global support to the Rolls-Royce capability and will create a world leader in marine power systems.
In the energy sector, Rolls-Royce engines are used for power generation and oil and gas operations in nine countries in the Middle East. Industrial Avons are used extensively by the Dubai Petroleum Company, which also employs the industrial RB211.
Avon, RB211 and Proteus gas turbines and a range of Allen diesel engines are in service elsewhere including projects in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran and Iraq.
With its engines used so widely in the region across all key market sectors, the Middle East is set to remain a vital territory for Rolls-Royce products in the future. The Dubai Air Show continues to prove a valuable showcase of the company's diverse capabilities - particularly in the civil and defence aerospace field.
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Rolls-Royce Demonstrates Middle East Strength At Dubai 2000
