USAF orders engines from Rolls-Royce Deutschland

Rolls-Royce Deutschland is manufacturing, testing, certifying and delivering up to four BR710 A2-20 turbofan engines to the USAF, under a $47 million contract announced on 12 March.

Work will be carried out in Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany, for completion by 30 June 2021.

In addition to the engines, Rolls-Royce Deutschland will provide transportation stands, storage covers and harnesses.

The BR710 is designed to enable operations from ‘hot and high’ airstrips, with sufficient fuel efficiency for long-endurance missions.

Engines in this family power a range of special mission aircraft developed on Bombardier and Gulfstream business jet platforms, according to Shephard Defence Insight. Examples include the Gulfstream G550 CAEW and Bombardier Global 6000, three of which are in service with the German Air Force for VIP transport.

In July 2020, the German Parliament approved procurement of three more Global 6000s for €750 million, to be used for ISR missions.

While the contract announcement did not mention which USAF platforms will be powered by the new engines, it may be significant that the USAF on 5 February announced plans to add six Bombardier Global 6000 regional jet-based aircraft by 2026 to its E-11A  Battlefield Airborne Communications Node fleet.

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