THIS NEW ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINE WILL CHANGE AVIATION FOREVER

Pratt & Whitney’s engines were a cornerstone of aviation in the 20th century. Their exceptional performance made them ideal for everything from jetliners to bombers and fighters.

Looking for an Upgrade

When the B-52H came into service, its most significant change was the switch to Pratt & Whitney TF-33-P-3 turbofan engines, which offered better performance and fuel efficiency than the older J57 turbojets. However, after three decades with the same engines, the USAF decided it was time for another significant upgrade.

Boeing and Rolls-Royce proposed the new and improved RB211 engines, which could increase thrust from 136,000 lbs to 172,000 lbs while enhancing range and reducing fuel consumption. Despite these advantages, the USAF declined due to the high cost, opting to continue using the existing engines until 2020.

The Decision

In April 2020, the USAF began searching for a replacement for the aging TF-33 engines. These engines had become too old and expensive to maintain, requiring a service overhaul every 6,000 flight hours at a cost of $2 million per engine. This made flying the B-52 a costly endeavor, with operational costs reaching $70,000 per hour as of 2019.

Through the Commercial Engine Re-Engining Program (CERP), the USAF ultimately chose Rolls-Royce’s F-130 engines. The $2.6 billion contract includes 650 engines, with 608 designated for immediate replacement and 42 kept as spares.

Testing the Engines

On March 1, 2023, Rolls-Royce announced it would test the F-130 engines at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The primary focus will be on the engine’s digital control system and crosswind aerodynamic flow. The F-130s are larger than the previous engines, meaning their larger nacelles are closer to the wing, which could impact controllability.

If the F-130 engines are approved for the B-52s, they are expected to extend the bomber’s service life by another thirty years.