Rolls-Royce Advances F130 Engine Development for B-52J with Successful Critical Design Review

Rolls-Royce has reached a significant milestone in the development of the F130 engine, successfully completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) last month. This achievement clears the way for final development, testing, and production efforts to proceed, bringing the company one step closer to delivering the upgraded B-52J to the United States Air Force (USAF).

The completion of the CDR marks the culmination of over two years of detailed design work and close collaboration between Rolls-Royce, the USAF, and Boeing. The engine testing program is set to begin altitude testing in February 2025 at the US Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, Tennessee, further progressing the project.

Candice Bineyard, Director of Early Life Cycle and Naval Programmes – Defence at Rolls-Royce, commented: “We are extremely proud to have delivered the F130 CDR milestone on time for the B-52J, and grateful for our continued partnership with the USAF and Boeing. Throughout the detailed design phase, our teams have followed a rigorous process in close collaboration with our partners. We are excited to begin the production work to deliver this incredible and highly reliable engine for the B-52J.”

The F130 engine development has already made significant progress. Rolls-Royce recently completed the first phases of sea-level tests at its Indianapolis facility and finished Rapid Twin Pod Tests at NASA’s Stennis Space Center this summer. The sea-level testing was essential for gathering critical performance data and testing the initial software release for the engine in Test Cell 114, which was recently upgraded as part of Rolls-Royce’s $1 billion investment in modernising its Indianapolis site. This facility, the largest production site for Rolls-Royce in the USA, plays a crucial role in delivering advanced manufacturing and innovation for the USAF and other customers, with American labor involved in the process.

The trials at NASA Stennis were particularly significant, as they marked the first time the F130 engine was tested in the dual-pod configuration of the B-52 aircraft. The Rapid Twin Pod Tests provided valuable insights, validating Rolls-Royce’s analytical predictions and de-risking the integration of the F130 engine into the B-52J. These tests successfully met their objectives, further advancing the project toward its next phase.

With the successful CDR and continued testing, Rolls-Royce is on track to deliver a highly reliable, upgraded engine for the B-52J, supporting the USAF’s modernization efforts and enhancing the aircraft’s operational capabilities for years to come.