Rolls-Royce has secured a contract from the Naval Air Systems Command to support the AE 1107C turboshaft engines that power the US Air Force (USAF) and Marine Corps’ growing V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft fleet.
The $57.1m contract represents the final option year of a five-year MissionCare contract, which requires the company to repair and provide support services for the powerplants.
Rolls-Royce Defence Services president Paul Craig said the company is committed to providing innovative and affordable support to the US military customers.
”We are focused on keeping their aircraft flying while continually seeking new solutions that will enhance their mission capability in future," Craig said.
A part of Rolls-Royce’s AE product family, the AE 1107 is a new-generation 6,000shp class turboshaft engine, and consists of a 14-stage compressor followed by an effusion-cooled annular combustor, a two-stage gas generator turbine and a two-stage power turbine.
An array of enhancements are being implemented by the company under the MissionCare support contract, to deliver 17% additional power to the engine and increase ‘hot and high’ performance, while significantly increasing time on wing.
MissionCare contract work is performed at the company’s facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Oakland, California, US, in addition to fleet support at customer bases.
Rolls-Royce also supports the AE 1107C engine fleet through the Defense Operations Center in Indianapolis, offering 24/7 real-time engineering support for V-22 operators.
Work under the latest contract is scheduled to be carried out in the 2013 to 2014 timeframe.
Jointly manufactured by Bell Helicopter and Boeing, the V-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, tiltrotor aircraft featuring both a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), and short take-off and landing (STOL) capability.
Available in three configurations, the aircraft is used by USAF and the Marine Corps for amphibious assault, combat support, long-range special operations infiltration and exfiltration, transport, search-and-rescue, medical evacuation and fleet logistic support missions.
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Image: A US Marine Corps’ V-22 Osprey aircraft during its flight. Photo: © Rolls-Royce plc 2013.
