Safran and France’s DGA flies NH90 on 100% SAF

Safran Helicopter Engines and Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency has flown a military helicopter with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

It worked with Safran, TotalEnergies and Airbus Helicopters on the test flight of the NH90. One of the helicopter’s RTM322 ran on 100% SAF from TotalEnergies.

Safran says that is the first military helicopter to fly on 100% SAF without any engine modifications.

“This is an important step in our roadmap for the large-scale deployment of SAF, which will kick-start a decarbonization process within the armed forces to gradually reduce the use of fossil fuels,” says Christian Caneilles, head of heavy helicopter engines programs, Safran Helicopter Engines.

TotalEnergies made the SAF from used cooking oil.

The test flight took place on February 3, 2023 DGA’s test centre Essais en vol in Istres. Safran bench tested a RTM322 engine with 100% SAF in December 2022.