Rolls Royce in $1-bn engine deal with Lockheed Martin

British engine maker Rolls Royce today signed a long-term deal worth $1 billion to supply around 600 engines to Lockheed Martin for its future C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft.

Rolls-Royce will supply AE 2100 engines for all variants of the C-130J until 2025. The engine agreement will service US Government and International contract requirements between 2014 and 2018.

Rolls-Royce said that the global C-130J fleet has surpassed 1 million flight hours, and Lockheed Martin recently announced its intent to obtain certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for a new civil variant – the LM-100J.

Rolls-Royce added that it has already delivered more than 1,500 AE 2100 engines to Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Georgia facility. AE 2100 engines are manufactured, assembled and tested in Indianapolis, US.

Tom Bell, Rolls-Royce, president defence, said, "Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce have partnered for decades to produce thousands of the world's leading medium transport aircraft. Our new engine agreement secures that relationship for years to come, enabling operators to continue to enjoy the versatile, powerful and fuel efficient aircraft they have come to appreciate through 1 million flight hours and counting."

"This agreement is a very important step in providing our customers the most affordable airlifter in the world. The C-130J Super Hercules has proven the 'value of the power' as the Rolls-Royce AE 2100 propulsion system allows the Super Hercules to perform any mission, anywhere, any time," said, George Shultz, vice president and general manager C-130 Programs at Lockheed Martin.