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14 SEPTEMBER, 2017 SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM
BY: LEIGH GIANGRECO WASHINGTON DC
Rolls-Royce is pitching the BR725 for the US
Air Force’s B-52 bomber re-engine effort, though the service has yet to
establish a programme of record or release a request for proposals.
Momentum has increased on the engine replacement as more
responses to the USAF’s B-52H engine alternative study have poured in, says Tom
Hartmann, R-R North America’s senior vice-president of customer business.
Despite an accident in January that dropped one TF33 engine from a bomber
during a training mission, R-R has no sense has no sense of when an RFP could
drop or whether the USAF could fit the engine replacement in its budget.
“We’re acting like it’s imminent, those are the
grindstones we’re working,” Hartmann says. “I think there’s been a sense of
urgency for a couple years now. The reason we’re doing this today is because
we’re seeing an increased momentum and want to offer our best shot at the
competition.”
Without a firm RFP in hand, R-R is basing its initial
BR725 offering on discussions with the service and B-52 manufacturer Boeing.
R-R clarified the company is not teaming with Boeing.
R-R's 700-series engines are part of the USAF’s F130
engine family, powering the service’s Bombardier Global 5000-based E-11A
Battlefield Airborne Communications Node aircraft and the Gulfstream G550-based
C-37A. If the USAF moves forward with engine replacement and R-R wins the
contract, the company would create a new F130 engine assembly and test line in the
US, while production of commercial variant, the BR725, would continue in
Germany. R-R's primary engine assembly site in the US is the former Allison
complex in Indianapolis. R-R also produces subassemblies in a plant in
Richmond, Virginia.
So far, the USAF has foregone plans to reconfigure the
B-52s with four engines, which would have required expensive modifications to
the wings, R-R says. R-R previously considered a higher thrust variant of the
RB211 turbofan engine as a four-engine option on the B-52, but the service does
not appear to be moving in that direction, according to R-R.
“Our BR700 is right in the sweet spot,” Hartmann says.
“It’s almost a perfect one-for-one fit from a thrust and a size standpoint.”
While rival engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has
touted an upgraded version of its original TF33 engine to sustain the B-52
through 2050, R-R cites support from both Boeing and the USAF for a replacement
rather than refurbishment, Hartmann says. The new engines would require a
reduced number of air refueling tankers, would avoid obsolescence risks older
engines could pose and could provide a 34% improvement in fuel consumption over
existing engines, he says.
“Refurbishing the engines only gives you a partial
benefit,” he says. “So you may see initial lower costs, but it’s a $10 billion
increase in fuel costs and overhauls over the life of the fleet.”
Original post: flightglobal.com
BR725 powerplant military designated F130
BR725 powerplant - Rolls-Royce
With over 1600 Trent XWP engines ordered by 40 customers
worldwide, Rolls-Royce is currently experiencing a manufacturing backlog of
more than 1500 engines, or over 6 years of production from its U.K. and Germany
facilities.
But the backlog of Trent XWP orders aren’t hampering
momentum, as the company aims to corner military sales as well. Rolls-Royce
additionally laid out an offering of the BR725 powerplant, designated F130 for
military purposes, to the U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress fleet.
BR725 powerplant military designated F130 - Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce expects an imminent announcement from the
USAF for a new request for information for a re-engining of the B-52’s Pratt
& Whitney TF33-P3 engines. From as early as 1982, the USAF has considered
re-engining B-52s to improve range, fuel burn, and reduce the smokiness of the
original powerplants, although the company acknowledged that there is—as of
yet—no stated program for such a project.
The F130 would incorporate lessons learned from the 700
series of Rolls-Royce engines as well as the Trent-series commercial
powerplant. F130-series engines are already in USAF service aboard the Northrop
Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, the Bombardier E-11A BACN, and has been chosen to
power the new Compass Call aircraft, the Gulfstream G650. Rolls-Royce estimates
it would take approximately 650 engines in total to equip a fleet of 72-75
B-52s, accounting for one F130 engine replacing every two TF33-P3 engines.
Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3 turbofan - © David Mackey
Macks Aviation Photography
Although the Rolls-Royce would plan to integrate as an
“integrator” as well as engine provider, the change from an eight engine layout
to four could create airframe issues the USAF may not want to manage, such as
ground clearance from a single, larger fan, weapon recertification, and
maintenance issues. Source: articles.sae.org
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