Rolls-Royce wins $65 million

Rolls-Royce has recently been awarded two contracts from the US Naval Air Systems Command for the purchase and continued support of AE 1107C Liberty engines powering V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

Under the purchase contract, Rolls-Royce will produce 28 engines for the MV-22 and CV-22 versions of the aircraft in 2006-07. The engines are manufactured in Indianapolis, IN.

The V-22 tiltrotor aircraft, known as the Osprey, takes off like a helicopter and flies like an airplane. Powered by twin Rolls-Royce AE 1107C Liberty engines, V-22s fly at twice the speed, with three times the payload and up to five times the range, of conventional helicopters. The US government approved full rate production for the aircraft in September 2005.

The AE 1107C engine is part of the “common core” AE engine line produced by Rolls-Royce, and provides more than 6,000 shaft horsepower.