Thailand becomes first overseas base of Trent XWB-97 R&D project of Rolls-Royce

BANGKOK, September 6 (TNA) - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, a world leading automobile manufacturer of the United Kingdom, has chosen Thailand as its first overseas base for the research and development (R&D) project of its Trent XWB-97 engine, used in aircraft. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith presided over a ceremony in Bangkok on Thursday to launch the Trent XWB-97 R&D project, which is an agreed cooperation between the UK-based Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), under the supervision of his ministry. Under the project, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited will inject its investment fund of 100 million US dollars annually to sponsor the operation of the project, aimed to conduct further develop of the Trent XWB-97 aircraft engine that was initially used with Airbus A350-1000 planes in February 2018. The agreed cooperation project, the first of its kind in the world outside the head office of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited in the UK, will be operated at the THAI building for aircraft engines tests in line with its aviation operational strategy 2018-2019. The project is also aimed to boost THAI revenues and business returns in the future from the transfer of advanced aviation technologies, along with the total development of Thailand's air transport sector, covering the maintenance, repair and oerhaul (MRO) services. The Thai government, through the Ministry of Transport, plans, meanwhile, to promote the THAI aircraft maintenance center at the Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok to become the country's aircraft engines maintenance center, while the U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong Province in the Thai East to become the country's aircraft maintenance center. In 2020, THAI plans to expand its cooperation with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited on an upgraded R&D project of the TRENT700 aircraft engines to the "overhaul" level. (TNA)