Rolls-Royce wins $135M deal from Canadian Air Force

Rolls-Royce, the world leader in engines for military transport aircraft, has been selected as the propulsion system provider for the Canadian Air Force’s newly contracted fleet of 17 Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical lift aircraft.

Each aircraft is powered by four Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 advanced turboprop engines and Rolls-Royce values the business at more than $135 million over the life of the program. Aircraft delivery is scheduled for 2010.

The Honorable Michael Fortier, Canadian Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and The Honorable Peter MacKay, Canadian Minister of National Defense, recently announced the C-130J contract award to Lockheed Martin.

The contract award further enhances the position of the Rolls-Royce AE2100 engine as one of the most popular turboprop engines in military and regional transport.

The Canadian announcement follows the recent milestone production and delivery of the 1,000th AE2100 engine from Rolls-Royce. The engine was presented to Lockheed Martin and awaits installation on a C-130J military transport.

Dennis Jarvi, president of Defense North America, commented: “Rolls-Royce is pleased to strengthen its position as the world leader in engines for military transport aircraft. The AE2100D3 provides the C-130J pilot with the power, flexibility and range needed so they can complete their mission, even in the most challenging conditions.”

Rolls-Royce has been a long-term, dedicated supplier to the Canadian Forces with propulsion systems powering several aircraft fleets for the Canadian Air Force, including the Hawk Trainer fleet for the NATO Flight Training in Canada Program and the CP 140 Aurora P3 fleet. Together with its industrial partners, Rolls-Royce is participating in many of the Canadian Government’s

“Canada First” major procurements as the Government revitalizes Canada’s defence capabilities.

About Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce operates in four global markets – civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy. It is investing in technology and capability that can be used in each of these sectors to create a competitive range of products.

The AE2100D3 engine is part of the “common core” AE engine line produced by Rolls-Royce, and provides up to 6,000 shaft horsepower. The reliable and proven AE engine line has accumulated more than 25 million flight hours in military and civil applications.

A significant and growing industry player in North America, Rolls-Royce employs nearly 8,000 people at more than 66 US locations in 26 states and seven sites in six Canadian provinces. Annual sales in North America are more than $3 billion.

As the world leader in military transport aircraft, Rolls-Royce provides the engine for the new C-27J, C-130J and V-22 Osprey and powers more than 2,800 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft currently in service with the United States and other international armed forces. These include such mission-critical aircraft as: the Global Hawk; the AV-8B Harrier and V-22 Osprey; the T-45 Goshawk and P-3 Orion; the OH-58 Kiowa and Kiowa Warrior and MH-6 Little Bird helicopters; and C-130 Hercules transports.

Rolls-Royce Canada Limited, based near the Montréal International Airport at Dorval, is a diversified aero and industrial engine facility serving more than 600 customers in 30 countries worldwide. The company began operations in 1947. Repair and overhaul is the major sector of this business unit, with more than 4,500 engines serviced to date in its comprehensive, modern facility. The plant occupies more than 500,000 square feet of space and is among the best equipped in the world. The plant has five engine test cells, the largest of which has the capacity of testing gas turbine engines up to 100,000 lbs of thrust.

As the Center of Excellence for the Corporate Market, Rolls-Royce Canada has an exclusive contract for the Rolls-Royce BR710 engine, which powers the Gulfstream V, G500 and G550 and the Bombardier Global Express and Global 5000 corporate aircraft. The company is an Authorized Maintenance Centre for the Rolls-Royce AE3007 engine, which powers the Embraer ERJ 135/140/145 regional jets, Embraer Legacy and the Cessna Citation X business jet. Rolls-Royce Canada also maintains the Spey and Tay engines that power the Gulfstream II, III, IV, 300, 350, 400 and 450.