FARNBOROUGH, England — Rolls-Royce has picked up a $216 million contract with Pratt & Whitney for the lift system used to enable the F-35B's short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.
The deal, announced at Farnborough International Airshow, includes 13 lift systems, labor, spares and tooling. Those systems will be integrated in F-35 aircraft produced in the ninth low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot.
A second contract for LRIP 10 could be announced as early as this summer, the company said in a news release.
Pilots can enable the system — which can generate more than 40,000 pounds of downward thrust — with the flick of a button, according to Rolls-Royce.
The lift system comprises a powerful 50-inch, two-stage counter rotating fan, a 3-bearing swivel module, rolls posts, the shaft, and a vane box, the company said. The fan produces the forward vertical lift and a thrust of more than 20,000 pounds, while the swivel module allows the aircraft to direct the thrust downward. Roll posts in the wings provide another 1,950-pound force each.
Rolls-Royce also manufactured the lift system used in legacy Harrier aircraft as well as the V-22 Osprey's engine.
"This new contract reflects continued confidence in the technology and capability of the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem," said Chris Cholerton, president of Rolls-Royce's defense division. "At the same time, we continue to focus on improving affordability for the customer, driving improvements into our production system.
Valerie Insinna is Defense News' air warfare reporter. She previously worked the Navy/congressional beats for Defense Daily, which followed almost three years as a staff writer for National Defense Magazine. Prior to that, she worked as an editorial assistant for the Tokyo Shimbun’s Washington bureau.
