Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin sign engine fuel efficiency agreement
Wednesday, 22 June 2011Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has signed a memorandum of agreement with Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide performance improvements, including better fuel efficiency, to the T56 family of engines. The agreement builds on a partnership of over 50 years and demonstrates long-term commitments from both companies to enhance safety, economy, reliability and performance of Lockheed Martin aircraft.
Rolls-Royce has introduced technologies proven in its other business units for the Series 3.5 engine enhancement kit to give improved fuel efficiency, increased turbine life, and better engine performance for hot day and high-altitude operations. The redesign has demonstrated up to 9 per cent savings in specific fuel consumption during recent engine testing.
The Series 3.5 engine enhancement kit is designed for retrofit into T56 turboprop engines powering military applications, such as the C-130H military transporter and the P-3 military maritime patrol aircraft, and the commercial L-100 variant.
It utilises technologies already in operation with Rolls-Royce powered commercial and military aircraft, such as new turbine blade materials in the AE engine family, as well as the blade coating process used in the 501-K gas generator in our energy business. The Series 3.5 engine enhancement upgrade can be accomplished as part of a traditional engine overhaul, and does not require any aircraft or engine control system interface modifications.
Patricia O’Connell, Rolls-Royce, President - Defence Customer Business, stated: “As operators continue to look for ways to extend the service life of their C-130, P-3 and L-100 aircraft, the Series 3.5 engine enhancement kit will offer them significant performance enhancements to enable more efficient operations for decades to come.”
Jim Grant, Lockheed Martin Vice President of Business Development for Air Mobility and Special Operations Forces, stated: “We are dedicated to supporting our legacy C-130 and P-3 aircraft that continue to provide outstanding service to the armed forces of the United States and its allies. This level of service is accomplished through long standing collaborations, such as we have with Rolls-Royce.”
- Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
- As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,500 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
- Annual underlying revenues were £10.8 billion in 2010, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at £59.2 billion at 31 December 2010, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
- Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are engineers.
- In 2010, Rolls-Royce invested £923 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.
- Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
- 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.
- Rolls-Royce has services agreements in place with all branches of the US Military, including the Air Force, Marines, Army and Navy, plus the Coast Guard.
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