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Snecma and P&W Sign MOU to Develop New Upper Stage Rocket Engine

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18, 2000—Pratt & Whitney's (P&W) space propulsion operations and Snecma Moteurs' (Snecma) rocket engine division announced today that the two companies have agreed to jointly develop a new, high technology upper stage rocket engine. The new engine, designated the SPW2000, is a liquid oxygen and hydrogen 45,000 to 60,000 pound thrust-class engine with potential application for the Ariane 5, Delta and Atlas launch vehicles.

"I believe that this type of partnership is the best approach to meet the expectations of a very demanding but relatively narrow market," said Jean-Paul Herteman, Executive Vice President of Snecma's rocket engine division. "Snecma has a long history of successful experience in European and transatlantic cooperation. We are confident that we will run a very efficient joint program between Pratt & Whitney and the European space industry team."

"We are extremely pleased to be teamed with a world-class, European-based company, such as Snecma, to develop a world-class engine," stated Larry D. Knauer, President, P&W Space & Russian Operations. "This initiative is consistent with our objectives for growth."

"Through use of the complementary technical expertise of our companies, the SPW2000 will have increased capability with reduced technical and schedule risk. Together, this team can provide the launch industry with a much more affordable and higher performance engine in a shorter time frame than would be possible by a single contributor," stated Knauer.

After conducting conceptual design studies early this year, P&W and Snecma signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week, paving the way for the joint development and production of a common engine. The parties are in the process of seeking appropriate government and agencies approvals. Under the MOU, P&W plans to take the lead role in marketing the SPW2000 engine in the United States while Snecma will take the lead role in marketing the engine to European customers. Each company will assemble and test engines using components it has produced or has been supplied by the other party.

Snecma Moteurs' rocket engine division designs, develops, produces and markets propulsion systems for space and military applications. It offers the widest range of propulsion products in the world, with thrust from less than an ounce to well over a million pounds. Snecma Moteurs, the prime contractor for Ariane liquid propulsion systems, will lead a team of European companies who will assume activities for the SPW2000. Snecma Moteurs is a unit of Snecma group of Paris, France.

P&W Space Propulsion includes liquid rocket and hypersonic propulsion at Liquid Space Propulsion, located at West Palm Beach, Fla.; solid rocket propulsion at Chemical Systems Division, located at San Jose, Calif.; Russian rocket engines at RD AMROSS LLC., located at West Palm Beach, Fla.; and automated spray systems and services at Advanced Systems Technology, located at Huntsville, Ala. P&W is a unit of United Technologies Corporation of Hartford, Conn.

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