STEWART PENNEY / BRISTOL
Rolls-Royce Defence is seeking to expand its engine support business and develop unmanned air vehicle (UAV) and unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) powerplants to reduce reliance on its combat aircraft engine programmes. It also plans to establish itself as an integrated power supplier.
Martin Lee, R-R director business strategy and new projects, says R-R's involvement in the Eurofighter Eurojet EJ200 and the General Electric F136, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) alternative engine, will "underpin the business for many years", but the company needs to consider programmes beyond these.
The principal UK programme is the Future Offensive Air System, which will replace the Panavia Tornado. The manned element will be Eurofighter or JSF, says Lee, "so R-R has to look at a mix of different platforms and how to project ourselves into that environment where there may not be another development programme on the scale of the EJ200 and F136".
Air-breathing engines for UAVs, UCAVs and missiles will be considered, says Lee. Unmanned programmes will either receive significant funding for new engines or the propulsion system will remain a compromise, requiring the adaptation of products such as the EJ200 or Adour 951, says Lee.
"In an ideal world, we would develop a new core, but the market seems to be lots of small programmes, making it difficult to justify new core development. The thrust now is to make the current range attractive to the new market sector," says Lee. He adds: "We see a market opportunity as a power system integrator."
R-R aims to integrate the gas turbine, generators, secondary power sources, distribution system and system control. UAVs would probably be the first applications. As the proposal develops, R-R will decide which elements are developed internally and which through partnerships or acquisitions.
R-R is generating increased revenues through support, an area predicted to grow faster than engine manufacturing. The company intends to develop this area of business by building on existing contracts for the UK Royal Air Force's BAE Systems Nimrod MR2 fleet - R-R is responsible for supporting the Spey engines that power the Nimrod MR2.
Derek Wilding, vice-president UK Ministry of Defence support, says the company has pinpointed four other engine fleets within the UK armed forces that could benefit from a similar system. This could be exported to existing customers or when surplus UK equipment is sold overseas.
Source: Flight International
