The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a new sustainment contract worth up to $420m to Rolls-Royce for engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the service’s Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft fleet.

The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will continue for six years and will also include MRO engine services for the US Navy fleet of Triton unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Furthermore, the agreement includes delivery of programme management and sustainment engineering services for Rolls-Royce’s F137 turbofan engines, which are engineered and manufactured at the company’s facilities in Indianapolis, US.

“Our innovative public-private partnership at Tinker AFB has enabled us to work together in a new way and will be a key component of maximising engine availability.”

The USAF designation for the company’s AE 3007H engine, F137 helps power the Global Hawk and Triton UAVs, as well as a number of commercial and business aviation aircraft.

MRO services on the unmanned jets will be carried out at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) in Oklahoma, US, where the USAF has established a public-private partnership to develop and manage an engine depot in collaboration with Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce Defence Services president Paul Craig said: “Rolls-Royce has a long and successful history of supporting USAF and navy engines, and our innovative public-private partnership at Tinker AFB has enabled us to work together in a new way and will be a key component of maximising engine availability.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“This new contract includes engine services for the navy’s Triton fleet, and we look forward to continuing this public-private partnership for years to come, focusing on customer support and enhancing mission success.”

The depot will be the company’s first engine facility to be operated at Tinker AFB, which serves as the base for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

Additional F137 work will be performed at a Rolls-Royce’s engine facility in Montreal, Canada.