French companies Turbomeca and Microturbo have built a new turbine engine manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in the UK near Fareham, Hampshire, on England’s south coast. The new structure, built at a cost of $7.7 million, adds 50,000 sq ft of office and factory space, doubling the previous available area.

The sister companies expect to add 100 new jobs at the site, which already employs 150. In charge of the new facility will be Microturbo manager Michael Foot.

Turbomeca Ltd. will expand both OEMs’ manufacturing capability for the current line of helicopter and missile engines and APUs; develop an engine maintenance, repair and overhaul center for UK military power units; and set up a design center for the next generation of low-cost turbojets.

It will also support the activities of UK Eurocopter distributor McAlpine Helicopters, providing maintenance, repair and support services for various Turbomeca engine models in the UK and Ireland.

While Turbomeca turbines are found on civil helicopters of all types, the UK Ministry of Defense is the largest single customer for the French manufacturer. Microturbo provides starting systems on Hawk, Jaguar and Eurofighter aircraft, as well as engines for the Stormshadow missile. The company also co-manufactures the engines for the Spearfish torpedo. Turbomeca and Rolls-Royce Turbomeca power Royal Air Force Pumas, Army Longbow Apaches and Royal Navy Merlins (EH-101).

Turbomeca Ltd., which has just earned a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II, acts predominantly as a sales, marketing and technical support organization for Turbomeca SA in southwest France. The two companies support 2,000 engines operating in the UK.