
Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to sign US $1 Billion JSF contract
London, England, December 19, 2001 -- Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and Rolls-Royce today signed the contract covering Rolls-Royce’s short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) development work for the F135 propulsion system for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft. The contract was signed by Walter Bylciw, Executive Vice President of Military Engines at P&W, and by Andy Stevens, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Defence (Europe), at a ceremony held at Rolls-Royce’s corporate headquarters.
The contract, worth approximately $1 billion to Rolls-Royce over ten years, is for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the program.
It covers design and development work on the innovative LiftFanä , the roll posts, the three bearing swivel duct and nozzle system that together provide the STOVL capability for the JSF. P&W has prime contractor responsibility for the development of the propulsion and lift system for the JSF under the terms of a $4.8 billion contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Activities will include the design and manufacturing of ground test engines, as well as subsequent production and support of flight test engines.
The two companies also signed a teaming agreement for the F135 propulsion system, formalizing the relationship between the two companies. The teaming agreement continues Rolls-Royce’s responsibility in providing P&W with design and development leadership for major F135 STOVL components.
"We are proud to work with Rolls-Royce on the F135 propulsion system," Bylciw said. "Global partnerships strengthen the JSF program overall, and we look forward to Rolls-Royce joining us in delivering the most capable and mature propulsion system, on time and on budget, to our customer."
"As a leading aero engine manufacturer for military aircraft, Rolls-Royce is ideally positioned to deliver the high technology required by the JSF Joint Program Office to match their operational requirements," said Stevens. "Rolls-Royce is able to bring the technology and expertise it has gained as the manufacturer of thePegasus engine for the AV-8B Harrier, which has been successful in multiple theatres and remains the world’s only operational and combat-proven STOVL aircraft."
Rolls-Royce involvement in JSF STOVL development will be led and program managed by its Bristol, UK site and strongly supported by its Indianapolis, U.S. facility. Approximately 900 Rolls-Royce jobs, split between the US and UK, will be sustained by JSF during the SDD contract.
This contract value and the associated resources required to deliver the F135 propulsion system has been previously announced by United Technologies Corporation (UTC), P&W’s parent company, and Rolls-Royce.
P&W’s F135 propulsion system is expected to enter production in 2007. It will power all JSF aircraft variants – conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), carrier variant (CV), and short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL). Up to 6,000 JSF aircraft are expected to be produced over the life of the program.
Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies company (NYSE:UTX), is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines.
Rolls-Royce plc is a global company providing power for land, sea and air. The company has established a balanced business, with leading positions in civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy markets, where its core technology can be applied over a broad range of products and services.
Notes to editors:
* Pratt & Whitney’s F135 main propulsion engine is derived from the F119 engine that powers the Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor.
* The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a multi-service/international cooperation warplane. The cornerstone of the program is affordability based on a next-generation, multi-role strike fighter aircraft that will have a 70 to 90 percent commonality factor for all the variants, significantly reducing manufacturing, support and training costs. First delivery of operational aircraft is anticipated in 2009.
* The JSF will be used by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as the U.K. Royal Navy and Air Force.
* Pictures of the signing will be available later today on
http://www.rolls-royce.com/latestn/images/thumbnails23.htm
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