Rolls-Royce wins $2.6bn contract to power USAF B-52 bombers

Rolls-Royce has been selected to power the B-52H Stratofortress as the bomber aircraft prepares for another 30 years in service.

The $2,604,329,361 contract award to Rolls-Royce means the company will integrate its F130 engine to the US Air Force aircraft.

The engine will replace the TF33-PW-103, which has powered the B-52 since the 1960s. The B-52 OEM, Boeing, is responsible for integrating the engines onto the aircraft.

USAF plans to finalise integration activities and deliver the first lot of B-52H modified aircraft by the end of 2028.

The F130 and its commercial family of engines have accumulated more than 27 million engine flight hours. A variant of the Rolls-Royce engine selected to power the B-52 is already in service with USAF around the world, powering both the C-37 and E-11 BACN aircraft.

Tom Bell, chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America, and president of defence, said: “We are proud to join a truly iconic U.S. Air Force program and provide world-class, American-made engines that will power its missions for the next 30 years. The F130 is a proven, efficient, modern engine that is the perfect fit for the B-52.”

The F130 offers high mission readiness and low maintenance demands. Once installed, the F130 can stay on wing for the entire planned B-52 lifetime. In addition, the F130 engine will provide greater fuel efficiency, increased range, and reduced tanker aircraft requirements. As importantly, the engine is ready for integration using Rolls-Royce state-of-the-art digital engineering tools.

Rolls-Royce will build and test the F130 engines at its Indianapolis, Indiana, facility following the recent completion of a $600 million investment to revitalise the advanced manufacturing campus.

The B-52 win creates demand for 650 engines to be produced at the site and will bring 150 new high-tech, high-skilled jobs for the state of Indiana.

Craig McVay, SVP strategic campaigns, Rolls-Royce Defense added: “We’ve been planning and preparing for this outcome and are ready to hit the ground running to prove that we are the best choice for the Air Force and the B-52. Our employees stand prepared to deliver once again for the men and women who protect our freedoms every day.”

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