British aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce will supply new engines for the American B-52 bombers. As a result, the outdated devices must be able to last for years. The deal is worth up to $2.6 billion, the Pentagon has said.
Rolls-Royce, which will have the job done by its North American branch, has won a $501 million base contract to supply 608 engines for a total of 76 US Air Force B-52s. Each plane has eight engines. But there are also many options with the deal, which can further increase the amount for the manufacturer. Rolls-Royce will also supply spare parts.
The B-52 was put into service in the 1950s and was used during the Vietnam War, among other things. Heavy bombers are still important to the US in the current era of drone technology. More recently, B-52s were used to provide air cover during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Americans want to keep the planes in service until about 2050. But for that, it is necessary that the devices get an upgrade. The US government is spending an estimated $11 billion on this. For example, there should also be new displays in the cockpit.
Several manufacturers were in the race to supply the new engines. General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, which made the engines with which the B-52s now fly, also came up with a proposal. But in the end, the preference went to Rolls-Royce. Incidentally, it is not about the car manufacturer Rolls-Royce. The automotive division has not been part of the industrial group since the 1970s. Cars bearing the Rolls-Royce name are now produced under the German BMW flag.