LONDON: Britain's Rolls-Royce  said it was selected by Airbus (AIR.PA) to provide Trent 700 engines and long-term maintenance services for five new Beluga XL transporter aircraft, in a deal worth $700 million.

Beluga aircraft had in the past been powered by engines made by Rolls-Royce's rival General Electric.

The announcement strikes a more positive tone for Rolls-Royce, which is under pressure after issuing a string of profit warnings - the most recent of which was blamed on difficulties in its main aero engines business.