Rolls-Royce secures engine research contract with UK Ministry of Defence
Monday, 15 June 2009Rolls-Royce has signed a jointly funded research and technology contract for ENTAPS (Engine Technologies for Aircraft Persistence and Survivability) with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD).
The three-year contract is aimed at maturing key propulsion technologies for future Deep Persistent Offensive Capability concepts. The research programme will mature the highest risk areas of the engine to the Technical Readiness Level required for Initial Gate and will also contain studies which address the integration of these technologies within the engine.
Graham Hopkins, Director of Engineering and Technology at Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, said: “The award of this contract is key to the continued development of our military engine technologies in the UK. It enables us to work on areas such as distortion-tolerant fans and high temperature combustion and turbine systems, which will potentially bring big capability benefits for UK defence operations in the future.
“Attributes such as low radar signature, high endurance and low specific fuel consumption are key attributes for the military aircraft of the future. The ENTAPS research programme allows us to develop engine core technologies that will enable Rolls-Royce to satisfy these demands through our Integrated Power Systems.”
Rolls-Royce has a strong track record in the development of military engine technologies, pioneering Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) operations with the Pegasus engine and taking this to the next level through the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem® for the F-35B Lightning II.
The company’s involvement in leading edge programmes such as the EJ200 for the Typhoon, and the F136 for the F-35, has also enabled it to introduce new fan technologies into military applications.
- 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.
- In 2008, Rolls-Royce and its partners invested over £800 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental aspects of its products. The primary technology investment area is aimed at reducing noise and emissions.
- Annual sales were £9.1 billion in 2008, of which 52 per cent came from services revenues. The firm and announced order book at the end of 2008 stood at £55.5 billion, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
- 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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