Rolls-Royce has agreed to work with IHI Corporation, to develop and deliver a future fighter engine demonstrator.
Rolls-Royce – IHI Corporation
The engine demonstrator programme will be a critical step forward, in enabling the two nations – United Kingdom and Japan, to develop their future fighter aircraft requirements, potentially securing hundreds of future jobs in the UK and Japan.
Work on the joint engine demonstrator will kick-start in early 2022, with the United Kingdom (UK) investing an initial £30 million, in planning, digital designs and innovative manufacturing developments.
Full-scale demonstrator power system
A further £200 million of UK funding is expected to go towards developing a full-scale demonstrator power system, supporting hundreds of highly skilled jobs, including many at Rolls-Royce’s Filton facility in Bristol, United Kingdom.
Alex Zino, the Executive Vice President (EVP) of Business Development and Future Programmes, at Rolls-Royce Defence, said “Across Rolls-Royce, we have a long-standing and valued relationship with our customers, and industry partners in Japan. The industry teams, in both UK and Japan, bring complementary technologies that will drive cleaner, next generation power, and propulsion for both nations’ future fighter requirements.”
Joint engine demonstrator
Rolls-Royce has a long and strong heritage of partnering in Japan, through the development of technology
He adds, “The joint engine demonstrator programme is an exciting opportunity to bring together some of the best combat air capabilities in the world and will also enable the development of innovative, and critical technologies that will be fundamental to the future of the Defence Aerospace Industry.”
Rolls-Royce has a long and strong heritage of partnering in Japan, through the development of technology, engineering and supply chain relationships, since the 1960s. The company employs over 40 employees in the Kobe and Tokyo offices, and a further 5,000 Japanese employees work on Rolls-Royce programmes, in the company’s partner organisations.
Next-gen power and propulsion system
The recent technology programmes conducted by the Japanese government and Japanese industries, coupled with access to the technologies, which are being developed in the UK Tempest programme, will enable the development of a state-of-the-art next generation power and propulsion system.
This announcement helps ensure Rolls-Royce enhances its world-class technology and capabilities, and will lead to future prosperity in the United Kingdom. Technology development is the key to Rolls-Royce’s competitiveness and future success, and they invest extensively in UK technology, accounting for approximately 3% of annual UK R&D investments.
Rolls-Royce plays major role in UK's economy
Rolls-Royce’s UK activities prior to COVID-19 represented 0.6% of the United Kingdom’s GDP, or £12.1 billion. More than 100,000 jobs, across the UK, are directly and indirectly supported by Rolls-Royce, bolstered by an annual spend of £2.8 billion, with over 2,300 UK suppliers. Rolls-Royce is a significant contributor to UK prosperity, accounting for around 2% on average of UK goods exports, over the last three years.
