Rolls-Royce is finalising initial testing of the F130 engine for the United States Air Force B-52J Stratofortress by the conclusion of this year.
The company revealed that ongoing Rapid Twin Pod Tests at NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi have met all preliminary targets.
Consequently, this has enabled the acquisition of an “unprecedented amounts of data early in the program,” which supports the seamless integration of the F130 engine into the B-52J.
The company further divulged plans for the Critical Design Review, which is set to commence in the early months of 2024. Furthermore, with respect to the logistics and assembly front, Rolls-Royce anticipates punctual delivery of test engines, both ground and flight, spanning 2024 to 2026.
Candice Bineyard, who serves as the Director of Programs – Defense, voiced her satisfaction, stating, “We are thrilled with the progress we have made with this milestone testing program. The engines are operating perfectly so far – matching all of our predictions on inlet performance. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Air Force and Boeing as we complete testing at NASA Stennis Space Center and prepare for Critical Design Review.”
It’s worth recalling that in September 2021, the Air Force had favoured Rolls-Royce F130 engines to supersede the prevailing power units in the B-52 fleet. A considerable order, entailing delivery of over 600 new engines, is in the pipeline.
Notably, these engines are not only anticipated to augment the B-52 aircraft’s operational lifespan by an additional 30 years but also to display such resilience that they are projected to remain in place for the entirety of the aircraft’s life.
The F130 engines are set to undergo manufacturing, assembly, and testing at the Rolls-Royce facilities located in Indianapolis, marking the firm’s most extensive production hub in the U.S.
Quite a prestigious contract for RR
All F130 engines will be built in the US and assembled at Rolls Royce’s Indianapolis plant where it just completed a $600 million upgrade. More Rolls Royce products are built in Indianapolis than anywhere else in the world.
Read somewhere on internet these engines 30% more efficient and pay for themselves in fuel savings.
That’s interesting what are their major products presently being produced there?
Well RR has quite distributed production of its jet engines these days.
They build them in Germany ( near Berlin and Frankfurt), Britain (Derby), Singapore as well as Indianapolis mainly for US military requirements
” Build” can mean anything from just a final assembly line to making substantial components for the final assembly process.
Then there is the other products that arent jet engine based such as the MTU diesels, mainly Germany and US
You have forgotten Bristol where Military jet engines are built !
Good news for RR