Rolls Royce Will Provide Long-Awaited New Jet Engines For The B-52 Bomber Fleet

[Oldman1]

Rolls Royce Will Provide Long-Awaited New Jet Engines For The B-52 Bomber Fleet

After decades of trying, the B-52 will finally get new engines with Rolls Royce being tapped for the contract that could be worth up to $2.6B.

www.thedrive.com

The Pentagon has revealed that the U.S. Air Force has chosen Rolls-Royce's North American division to supply F130 turbofans to re-engine its fleet of B-52H bombers. This upgrade program, which has been years, if not decades, in the making, is a major milestone for the service's B-52H fleet and will help ensure those bombers keeping flying through 2050.

Details about the deal were included in today's edition of the Pentagon's daily contracting notice, which includes information about all awards valued over $7.5 million. Rolls-Royce's new contract from the Air Force is valued at $500,870,458 over the next six years but could grow to over $2.6 billion if all of its options are exercised.

"The TF33, which has powered the B-52H since the very first of these bombers entered service in the 1960s, is also just a dated, inefficient, low-bypass design. “Once installed, the F130 will provide vastly greater fuel efficiency while increasing range and reducing tanker aircraft requirements,” Rolls-Royce's website notes. This was another major factor for the Air Force in deciding whether or not to proceed with the re-engining effort."

 

[khansaheeb]

Rolls Royce Will Provide Long-Awaited New Jet Engines For The B-52 Bomber Fleet

After decades of trying, the B-52 will finally get new engines with Rolls Royce being tapped for the contract that could be worth up to $2.6B.

www.thedrive.com

The Pentagon has revealed that the U.S. Air Force has chosen Rolls-Royce's North American division to supply F130 turbofans to re-engine its fleet of B-52H bombers. This upgrade program, which has been years, if not decades, in the making, is a major milestone for the service's B-52H fleet and will help ensure those bombers keeping flying through 2050.

Details about the deal were included in today's edition of the Pentagon's daily contracting notice, which includes information about all awards valued over $7.5 million. Rolls-Royce's new contract from the Air Force is valued at $500,870,458 over the next six years but could grow to over $2.6 billion if all of its options are exercised.

"The TF33, which has powered the B-52H since the very first of these bombers entered service in the 1960s, is also just a dated, inefficient, low-bypass design. “Once installed, the F130 will provide vastly greater fuel efficiency while increasing range and reducing tanker aircraft requirements,” Rolls-Royce's website notes. This was another major factor for the Air Force in deciding whether or not to proceed with the re-engining effort."

B52s should be in the Museum, don't think new engines will do it any good.

 

[Oldman1]

B52s should be in the Museum, don't think new engines will do it any good.

LOL! Sure it looks like it should be in a museum, but they over engineered it to the point that it could fly another 50 years or more with constant upgrades. With new engines you got more range and more power, probably equip it with lasers in the future. And it can carry a large variety of weapons. Who knows, maybe they will have a B-52 replacement with more payloads and range, etc.

 

[khansaheeb]

One day it might be transformed into the spaceship USS Enterprise.

 

[Falconless]

So the Americans can’t even develop a competitive engine anymore?

 

[KAL-EL]

One day it might be transformed into the spaceship USS Enterprise.

A Starfleet constitution-class Starship is already under construction in very high orbit.

 

[Oldman1]

So the Americans can’t even develop a competitive engine anymore?

I'm sure GE and Pratty tried.

 

[Falconless]

I'm sure GE and Pratty tried.

But failed? So what does this say about America’s Industrial might? Relying on European Engines and helicopters (AW139 purchase for USAF) and possibly even having A330MRTTs

 

[Oldman1]

One day it might be transformed into the spaceship USS Enterprise.

B-52 and Spacex rocket and thats what you will get.

But failed? So what does this say about America’s Industrial might? Relying on European Engines and helicopters (AW139 purchase for USAF) and possibly even having A330MRTTs

They don't always win the bid.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

But failed? So what does this say about America’s Industrial might? Relying on European Engines and helicopters (AW139 purchase for USAF) and possibly even having A330MRTTs

We have to keep the European countries happy to you know. It can't be all one sided or we won't be selling any F35's to the EU.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Contracts for September 24, 2021

Today's Defense Department contracts valued at $7.5 million or more are now live on Defense.gov.

www.defense.gov

 

[VCheng]

So the Americans can’t even develop a competitive engine anymore?

It is Rolls-Royce's North American division:

Rolls-Royce North America

Rolls-Royce North America

www.rolls-royce.com

 

[Falconless]

It is Rolls-Royce's North American division:

Rolls-Royce North America

Rolls-Royce North America

www.rolls-royce.com

It was developed by Rolls Royce and BMW Aero for the GulfStream jets

 

[VCheng]

It was developed by Rolls Royce and BMW Aero for the GulfStream jets

So the B-52 program chose what served its requirements the best, as every customer should. That is why Airbus jets are also sold with P&W engines. There are now actually engine consortia since modern engines are so costly and complex to develop.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

So the Americans can’t even develop a competitive engine anymore?

Or it simply so that 400-500 units is not that much that you want spend development money. Someone who has something similar to the requirements is bound go win.
So it has nothing to do with technical capability.
It is a simple business case calculation.