Rolls-Royce successfully completed a Critical Design Review (CDR) for the F130 engine, paving the way for the final stages of development, testing, and production, and advancing the delivery of the upgraded B-52J to the United States Air Force.
This achievement is the result of more than two years of meticulous design efforts and close cooperation among teams from Rolls-Royce, the Air Force, and Boeing. The engine testing program is scheduled to commence altitude testing in February 2025 at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Candice Bineyard, Director, Early Life Cycle & Naval Programs – Defense, said, “We’re extremely proud to have delivered the F130 CDR milestone on time for the B-52J, and grateful for our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force and Boeing. Throughout the detailed design phase, our teams have executed a rigorous process in close collaboration with our partners. We’re excited to start the production work to deliver this incredible and highly reliable engine for the B-52J.”
Rolls-Royce recently finished the initial phases of F130 sea-level tests at its Indianapolis facilities and concluded the Rapid Twin Pod Tests at NASA's Stennis Space Center this summer.
Sea-level testing collected essential performance data by executing the initial software release for the engine in Test Cell 114. This test cell was recently upgraded as part of a $1 billion investment aimed at modernizing Rolls-Royce’s Indianapolis facilities to provide innovation and advanced manufacturing for the Air Force and other clients using American labour. The F130 engines will be produced, assembled, and tested in Indianapolis, which is Rolls-Royce’s largest production facility in the U.S.
At NASA Stennis, the F130 engines underwent testing in the B-52 aircraft's dual-pod engine setup for the first time. The Rapid Twin Pod Tests were crucial in confirming Rolls-Royce's analytical predictions, reducing risks associated with integrating the F130 engine onto the B-52J and achieving test objectives.
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