Rolls-Royce to produce F130 engine in Indianapolis if selected to re-engine B-52

Rolls-Royce announced today it will produce its F130 engine in Indianapolis if the Air Force selects it for the B-52 re-engining program.

The company told reporters Feb. 25 it has invested about $600 million to upgrade the Indianapolis facilities, and is ready to support a program that will be heavily reliant on prototyping and digital engineering processes. A win on the program would add more than 150 new manufacturing, engineering and program management jobs, officials said.

The Air Force is looking for commercial-off-the-shelf solutions to upgrade the B-52's TF33 engine with a newer, more fuel-efficient propulsion system. The total program will include about 650 engines and the service has said it could select a provider in fiscal year 2020.

Boeing will serve as the prime integrator for the effort, and Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and General Electric have all said they will bid engine solutions. The Air Force has said it will use its existing propulsion consortium to make the award via an other transaction agreement.