Rolls-Royce begins testing engines for US Air Force B-52s

Rolls-Royce has begun testing two F130 engines for the U.S. Air Force’s B-52 aircraft at the company’s outdoor test facility at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The F130 engines the Air Force selected to replace the existing powerplants in the iconic B-52 fleet will be manufactured in Rolls-Royce’s facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana. More than 600 new engine deliveries expected.

The milestone test program is the first time F130 engines have been tested in the dual-pod engine configuration of the B-52 aircraft. Each B-52 aircraft has eight engines in four pods.

The engine testing will focus on crosswind aerodynamic flow as well as confirming the successful operation of the engine’s digital controls system. Early results from the testing have been very positive with additional test data to be analyzed during the next several months.

Rolls-Royce is collaborating very closely with the Air Force and Boeing, which is managing the overall engine integration and B-52 aircraft modernization program. The new engines will extend the life of the B-52 aircraft for 30 years. F130 engines are so durable they are expected to remain on wing for the remainder of the aircraft’s life.

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“Rolls-Royce continues to work very closely with the Air Force and Boeing to ensure the engine testing and integration process run smoothly. This will result in higher fuel efficiency, reduced air refueling requirements, and significantly lower maintenance costs for the B-52 fleet,” said Candice Bineyard, director of Rolls-Royce’s defense program.

Rolls-Royce’s facilities in Indianapolis are the company’s largest production facility in the U.S. The company has invested $1 billion in recent years to completely modernize manufacturing and testing facilities in Indiana, as well as for advanced technology.

The Air Force selected F130 engines for the B-52 in September 2021 following a competitive selection process. The F130, derived from the Rolls-Royce BR family of commercial engines, has more than 30 million hours of operation and a high reliability rate.