US Air Force Partners with Rolls-Royce on Commercial Engine Replacement Program

Rolls-Royce has completed key tests for its F130 engine as part of the US Air Force’s B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program. The company evaluated engine performance under representative mission conditions at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, Tennessee. According to Rolls-Royce, the test campaign generated data across the engine’s full spectrum of flight conditions and will support the next phase of test aircraft modification and flight testing. Initial F130 flight-test engine builds are already underway, with deliveries expected in 2027. The successful completion of these tests may signal a significant step forward for the B-52J modernization effort.