F130 Engine Expected to Extend Aircraft Life by 30 Years

Rolls-Royce has begun testing its F130 engine, selected in September 2021 to power USAF B-52s, at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the company announced on 1 March. This marks the first occasion on which F130 engines have been tested in the B-52’s dual-pod engine configuration.

As part of the ‘BUFF’s’ modernisation programme, the F130 – to be manufactured in the company’s Indianapolis facility – has been selected as the replacement engine: over 600 are expected to be ordered, with each aircraft requiring eight engines in four pods. The testing will focus on crosswind aerodynamic flow and confirming successful operation of the digital controls system. Early results from the testing have been very positive, with additional test data to be analysed over the next several months.

Rolls-Royce is collaborating very closely with the US Air Force and with Boeing, which is managing the overall engine integration and aircraft modernisation program. The new engines will extend the life of the B-52 aircraft for 30 years. F130 engines are so durable they are expected to remain on wing for the remainder of the aircraft’s life. “We are excited to begin this milestone testing program, the first step for what will be decades of successful engine operation for the United States Air Force B-52 fleet. Rolls-Royce continues to work very closely with the Air Force and Boeing to ensure the engine testing and integration process run smoothly. This will result in higher fuel efficiency, reduced air refuelling requirements, and significantly lower maintenance costs for the B-52 fleet,” explained Candice Bineyard, Director, Programs – Defence.