Rolls-Royce is involved in two of the world's two major combat aircraft programmes, supplying hardware and technical expertise for both the Eurofighter Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter F-35 aircraft.

Rolls-Royce is one of four European aerospace companies that comprise EUROJET, maker of the twin-engined Typhoon's EJ200 powerplant. Along with Italy's Avio, Spain's ITP and MTU of Germany, the UK company has received large-scale initial batch orders for the partner nations' air forces, which ultimately require around 1,500 engine for 620 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Rolls-Royce has been involved in the Joint Strike Fighter programme since its inception in 1996. The company worked closely with Lockheed Martin and F135 propulsion system integrator Pratt & Whitney during the Concept Demonstration Phase. Its role has been to provide all key STOVL components, drawing on its unique experience in the field of vertical flight engine design, development and production.

Rolls-Royce is currently undertaking development work on the STOVL system worth more than $1 billion during the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the programme.

Among the STOVL components supplied by Rolls-Royce is the LiftFan, used exclusively for vertical flight, which is driven by a shaft from the main engine.