Rolls-Royce lands £290m contract for US fighter programme

AERO engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has been awarded three contracts totalling up to £290m ($442m) to produce and support for a US fighter plane.

The deal will see the British company provide LiftSystems™ for F-35B Lightning II aircraft and it includes price reductions from prior contracts.

The new contracts cover Low Rate Initial Production of 17 LiftSystems for F-35B aircraft, plus support, for two contract periods (LRIP 7-8), and were agreed between Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, the propulsion provider for the F-35 programme.

Rolls-Royce said the LRIP 8 contract reflected a reduction in average price per LiftSystem since the previous LRIP 6 contract. It said this had been achieved due to effective cost reduction measures associated with the F-35 Lightning II programme.

LRIP7 also includes delivery of the 50th LiftFan for installation in an F-35B. The installation meets all Initial Operational Capability (IOC) requirements for the US Marine Corps.

To reduce costs, Rolls-Royce introduced a 150-item initiative which it rolled out throughout its supply chain. The company said that despite the impacts on the supply program, it remained on track to meet cost targets and had still invested more than £56m ($85m) in support of the F-35 programme in recent years.

John Gallo, Rolls-Royce, President Defense Programs, said: “Rolls-Royce remains committed to reducing LiftSystem costs to meet affordability requirements for the F-35 Lightning II program. Through more than 150 affordability initiatives, we are focused on innovation and delivering cost reduction to the program and the operators.”

The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem comprises a LiftFan, 3-Bearing Swivel Module, a roll post under each wing, and a shaft connected to the aircraft’s F135 engine.
F-35 pilots say the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem has proven to be extremely stable and dependable in flight, with superior aircraft software controls making it easy to operate.

Rolls-Royce is the only company in the world that produces vertical lift technology for fighter aircraft.

The company continues to expand support for the F-35 programme, with field service representatives collaborating with military bases across the US, and a new interim depot facility under development at Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis to provide repair services.

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