The engine was designed for the Hughes AH-64 Apache and Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk, competing with the General Electric T700 and the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100.

The partners shared the £100 million development costs equally, Rolls-Royce made the turbines, the combustor, and the inlet particle separator while Turbomeca produced the axial-centrifugal compressor and intake.

Fitted with an inlet particle separator, its accessory gearbox is driven by the gas generator and the engine is control by a FADEC.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are used in the gyratory combustion chamber and the inlet guide vane system.

Exempted from U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, it could power the AW189's military derivative, the AW149 or a future attack helicopter based on its dynamic systems.

[5] Developed from a French Aviation Authority study, the Safran Power Pack Eco Mode on the Airbus Helicopters Racer allows it to shut down one of engines in cruise, lowering fuel consumption by 15%, and quickly and automatically reactivate it with an electric starter to its maximum power for acceleration, landing or emergencies.