Rolls-Royce opens new LiftSystem manufacturing cell

Monday, 19 July 2010

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has opened a new manufacturing cell at its Bristol facility which will produce a key element of the LiftSystem for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The new cell was officially opened by General Sir Kevin O’Donoghue, Chief of Defence Materiel for the UK Ministry of Defence.

The new £11 million production facility will manufacture the unique 3 Bearing Swivel Module (3BSM), a swivelling jet pipe capable of redirecting the rear thrust from the horizontal to the vertical position on the STOVL variant F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. It can rotate through 95 degrees in 2.5 seconds and passes 18,000 lbs. of thrust generated from the main engine.

The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem® enables short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) operations for the F-35B and comprises a LiftFan™, Variable Area Vanebox Nozzle, 3BSM and Roll Posts.

Simon Henley, Rolls-Royce Director for New Product Introduction - Defence, said: “The 3BSM is critical technology for the delivery of STOVL capability to the F-35B. It is one of the most complex components that we manufacture at Rolls-Royce and requires a high precision finished casing capable of handling very high temperatures and pressures.”

Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce today has a broad customer base comprising more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in 50 countries. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment, and to further developing employee skills.
Rolls-Royce is the world's number two defence aero engine company with 160 customers in 103 countries. The company offers engines in all key defence market sectors - combat, transport, helicopters, trainers, patrol, maritime and reconnaissance - and is well positioned on a number of new programmes that will deliver products over the next decade and beyond.

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