Singapore Airshow - AIN

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Rolls-Royce Launches EP version of Trent XWB Rolls-Royce yesterday launched an enhanced performance version of the Trent XWB to fly with Singapore Airlines A350s. The Trent XWB-84 EP offers a fuel performance improvement of one percent over the original Trent XWB-84, according to the UK aero engine manufacturer. It incorporates technologies from the higher-thrust Trent XWB-97, the company’s Advance engine program and “other future technology research.” Rolls-Royce (Stand N23) expects to deliver the first A350-900 powered with the enhanced performance engines to Singapore Airlines in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company said it will make the version available to other customers for later delivery. Technology improvements on the XWB-84 EP include improved turbine cooling and aerodynamics, improved secondary air system and interstage sealing, and further optimization of the XWB-84’s tip clearance control system.

Aerolease Order Boosts Mitsubishi’s MRJ Program Mitsubishi Aircraft has inked a letter of intent with U.S.-based Aerolease Aviation covering firm orders for 10 MRJ90 regional jets and options on another 10, the companies announced here in Singapore yesterday. The deal marks the first for new airplanes for Aerolease, which has until now specialized in used airplanes, and mainly cargo types. The companies expect deliveries to start in 2018 and run into 2019. Although Aerolease Aviation partner Jep Thornton acknowledged some concern over the delays that have plagued the MRJ program, he praised Mitsubishi (Stand U1) for its technological capability and expressed confidence that no further delays would hinder his plans to place the first airplane into service in 2018. “The accumulated experiences in aircraft manufacturing and strong financial background of the Mitsubishi group are great value to us,” noted Thornton. Read Expanded Version

IAI Unveils Quad-copter Bomb In answer to a requirement from Israeli military customers, including special forces, IAI has developed a quad-copter loitering munition that can be deployed by a single soldier for both surveillance and attack purposes. First revealed yesterday at the Singapore airshow, the Rotem L is controlled from a tablet station and is powered by a replaceable battery pack that gives 30 minutes’ endurance in standard mode. Rotem L has a pair of camera sensors–one in the nose and one under the belly–that can be used for surveillance and for target acquisition, imagery being relayed to the tablet. The nose camera can be swapped between day and night units in a matter of seconds. A quick-release module also allows the Rotem L to be reconfigured between a surveillance-only mode, with an additional battery pack giving another 15 minutes of endurance, or loitering munition mode with a two-grenade warhead weighing around two pounds. The warhead has an arming system that requires airflow for activation, with a high-conspicuity plastic “flag” being raised to warn operators that the aircraft is armed should it be recalled to its point of origin without detonation. Designed primarily for urban and close-quarters battle, the Rotem L has a typical operating range of around a mile, with a maximum of six miles. The vehicle incorporates an audio distance-measuring system that uses sonar to prevent it from inadvertently colliding with walls and other obstacles. Once an attack is commanded, the vehicle accelerates to around 60 mph (100 km/h) in the terminal phase, and can approach its target from varying angles.

Singapore Leasing Group Orders Five More ATR 72s Singapore-based leasing group Avation increased its fleet of ATR 72-600 regional airliners by ordering five more of the 70-seat twin turboprops. The $130 million contract was signed on the first day of the Singapore Airshow. Currently, Avation has 20 ATR 72s in its lease portfolio, most of which are -600 models, flying for carriers such as Virgin Australia, Flybe, Uni Air, Air India and Fiji Airways. The new deal would take its fleet of ATRs to 35, with the remaining deliveries set to be made through 2018. “We believe the ATR 72 is the most efficient aircraft type for regional routes. It provides the lowest fuel burn and the most reduced operating costs among all regional aircraft of its category,” said Avation executive chairman Jeff Chatfield. “ATRs are superb assets for lessor. They offer great returns and also allow portfolio diversification.” ATR chief executive Patrick de Castelbajac added, “Our success among leasing firms from all over the world underlines our product’s ability to consolidate and expand regional connectivity in very different operational environments.”

China’s Catic Reveals Turboprop UAV First revealed by way of an information sheet at the Beijing Aero Show in September last year, the Chengdu Wing Loong II turboprop-powered UAV is being exhibited in model form for the first time outside China (Stand S09). The model shows an air vehicle with a slender fuselage, not unlike that of the General Atomics Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper. Like the Reaper, it has large butterfly fins with a smaller ventral fin, but whereas the U.S. machine has wings with constant taper, Wing Loong II has a straight center section, outboard of which are tapering sections leading to tips with winglets. Tantalizing glimpses of what are likely to be Wing Loong II appeared on Chinese websites earlier last year, several months before the official revelation, including one image depicting just the butterfly tail and rear fuselage of a primer-painted test aircraft. A prototype is likely to have flown. Read Expanded Version