AE 2100

Making its first flight in 1954 and still in production today, the T56 engine powers the C-130H Hercules, which is still flying as part of the longest continuous military aircraft production run in history.

Tim Walton, Director of Mature Programs, Rolls-Royce, said: "The T56 and AE 2100 engines are a proud part of Rolls-Royce’s history and America’s history. Over the decades, these engines have powered aircraft carrying troops, life-saving equipment, and humanitarian supplies to every corner of the world. While we celebrate these milestones, we remember that these engines are more than a testament to engineering excellence – they are a testament to our commitment to the service members who depend on us to safely power their missions then bring them back home.”

The T56 engine and the AE 2100 engine provide power for military transport and long-range maritime patrols. Most notably, the engines each power variants of the iconic C-130 Hercules and Super Hercules for the U.S. Air Force, as well as other military and civil applications worldwide.

The T56 and AE 2100 engines are manufactured, assembled, and tested at Rolls-Royce facilities in Indianapolis, the company’s largest production facility in the U.S.

The T56 Engine

The T56 engine was developed to meet the Air Force's need for a reliable, powerful turboprop engine able to operate in demanding environments. The T56 made its first flight in 1954 on a Lockheed YC-130 Hercules, a prototype that led to the C-130 Hercules, one of the most successful military transport aircraft ever produced.

The T56 has one of the longest service lives of any aircraft engine, with many engines still in use decades after they were first introduced. Part of the T56’s success comes from performance, fuel efficiency, and durability upgrades over the years.

In addition to the Air Force’s C-130H Hercules, the T56 powers the P-3 Orion and E-2 Hawkeye for the U.S. Navy. More than 18,000 T56 engines have been sold in 70 countries. The engine’s commercial version, the T56 501-D, is the world’s leading large turboprop engine based on the number of units sold.

The AE 2100 Engine

The AE 2100 engine first entered airline service in 1994. Designed with advancements in materials that allow for greater efficiency and lower fuel consumption, the AE 2100 was developed to power military transports and long-range maritime patrol aircraft.

Today, the AE 2100 boasts over 10 million service hours, powering the tactical airlift workhorse of the U.S. Air Force: the C-130J Super Hercules. More than 2,700 AE 2100 engines have been delivered globally.

As part of the AE family of engines, the AE 2100’s modular design and easily accessible components reduce maintenance costs. The AE family of engines has topped more than 88 million flight hours, amassing a record of dependable and efficient service across military and commercial fleets around the world.

Over a century of defence expertise

Rolls-Royce has been powering the defence industry for over a century through our transformative aerospace engine technologies. Our long history of engine knowledge and expertise means that today, every branch of the United States armed forces operates aircraft or ships powered by Rolls-Royce.

This legacy is thanks in part to the revolutionary development of the AE engine family – a versatile, high-performance and proven engine core that has enabled countless missions globally and continues to deliver robust reliability. Today, the AE engine powers a multitude of applications including new and cutting-edge platforms.

The AE family story

Since Rolls-Royce’s acquisition of Allison Engine in 1995, the AE engine family has seen over 7,500 engine deliveries, accrued over 85 million flying hours and delivered $30bn in revenue.

Some of the key enablers of the AE engine family’s success were the decision to self-fund the AE engine core in 1983 and the certification of a minor yet critical commercial application for a regional airliner in 1994. These milestones opened the door to new and substantial opportunities to sell AE products to the United States Department of Defense.

Since then, the innovation of AE products has continued to evolve. Most recently, it was announced that the AE engine-powered Bell V-280 Valor had won the United States Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) programme  – one of the most important military helicopter campaigns in several decades.

AE family timeline

The early 80s

Building on the success of the T56 – one of the longest-running engine lines in aviation history – development starts on a revolutionary tiltrotor engine that would provide new levels of power for the United States military.

1985

The AE 1107C engine, also known by the military designation T406, is selected for the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey for the Marine Corps. The V-22 is now operated by the U.S. Air Force and Navy as well.

1990

The AE engine family breaks into the Civil and Business Aviation markets with the AE 3007 turbofan engine for Embraer and Cessna, making Cessna’s corporate jet the fastest-flying business aviation jet in history.

1994

Lockheed Martin selects the AE 2100D3 turboprop for its C-130J military transport aircraft, now in service around the world in multiple allied air forces.

1995

The AE 3007H is selected to power the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk, the world’s highest-flying and longest-endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for the United States Air Force.

2003

ShinMaywa in Japan begins flight testing of the US-2, an amphibious aircraft powered by four AE 2100J engines. The aircraft also features a Rolls-Royce T800 turboshaft engine for boundary layer control and is the only aircraft powered by five Rolls-Royce engines.

2012

Textron selects the MT7 marine gas turbine for the United States Navy’s Ship-to-Shore Connector.

2019

The AE 3007 powers Boeing’s MQ-25 unmanned tanker aircraft in its first flight.

2022

The AE 1107F-powered Bell V-280 Valor wins the United States Army’s FLRAA programme.

The platforms we power

The AE engine family’s renowned ‘common core’ serves a multitude of platforms from combat, intelligence, commercial and business aviation to naval marine vessels. Every engine is borne from one optimised assembly line at our facility in Indianapolis, United States, enabling remarkable efficiencies in manufacturing processes.

Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey

The AE 1107C – a defining member of the AE engine family – powers the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey.

Its revolutionary tiltrotor technology is designed to operate vertically, horizontally and at any point in between, allowing the aircraft to hover, land and take off like a helicopter while flying forward like an airplane.

Textron Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) Hovercraft

The MT7 gas turbine – developed as a marine version of the AE 1107C engine – powers the rapid deployment of personnel and vehicles between United States Navy ships and the shore and offers the increased fuel efficiency, performance and dependability of the ‘common core’.

Bell V-280 Valor

The Bell V-280 Valor will be powered by two AE 1107F engines and was selected in response to the United States Army’s calls for an efficient FLRAA that could fly approximately 2,440 nautical miles before refuelling. Built to revolutionise the reach and effectiveness of each mission, the V-280 offers unmatched manoeuvrability, speed and range.

MQ-25 Stingray

Powered by the AE 3007N engine, the MQ-25 Stingray aircraft is designed to provide unmanned, carrier-based air-to-air refuelling for the US Navy. A single engine provides more than 10,000 lbs of thrust and additional electrical power to each aircraft.

An ongoing legacy

In the future, the AE engine family will continue to evolve its capabilities based on the foundation of proven robustness and versatility.

Already, the AE 2100 engine has been selected to take part in a leading-edge hydrogen programme that aims to lay the groundwork for more sustainable aviation. AE engines have been tested and operated using Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), including by the Royal Air Force.