Fighter Engine Team

EVENDALE, OHIO – The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has signed a letter of agreement with the Denmark Ministry of Defence to explore additional work for Danish industry on the F136 engine for the F-35 Lightning II.

The F136 engine is the most advanced fighter aircraft engine ever developed and will be available to power all variants of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for t¬he US military, Denmark and seven other partner nations supporting the development program.

The agreement with the Fighter Engine Team coincided with a Danish industry visit to Rolls-Royce facilities in Indianapolis, US, and GE facilities in Evendale, US. During the visit, Danish companies Terma, Corena Denmark and Brüel & Kjaer Sound & Vibration Measurement discussed their capabilities and how they could benefit the F136 engine program. The Fighter Engine Team currently has a contract with Terma to supply composite vanes.

"Danish industry has long been recognized for its technical achievements and is already playing a vital role in the development of the F136 engine for the F-35. We will continue to work with the Ministry of Defence and the Defence & Aerospace Industries Association in Denmark to explore additional work as we plan production of the F136 engine," said Jean Lydon-Rodgers, President of the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team.

"In fact, companies who join the GE or Rolls-Royce supply chains will have the opportunity to compete for other opportunities beyond the F136 program. This could be the beginning of a very successful, long-term business relationship for all involved."

Ena Bjerregaard, Director of the Defence & Aerospace Industries Association in Denmark, FAD, said, "The F136 engine is one of the most advanced and important high-technology programs in the world and Danish industry is pleased to be involved. A number of companies have the capabilities to support the F136 in development and production and we will be looking for opportunities to contribute."

The F136 engine is being jointly produced by GE and Rolls-Royce, two global leaders in the propulsion business. Businesses throughout the international partner nations are contributing to production of the F136 engine.

The first production-configuration F136 engine is currently being assembled at GE and will begin initial testing around the first of the year, ahead of schedule. By the end of 2009, several F136 engines will be in testing, with first flight to follow in an F-35 in 2010. The first production engines will be delivered to customers in 2012.

The F136 program recently received approval for continued System Development and Demonstration (SDD) funding in 2009, valued at $430 Million, along with $35 Million in additional funding for long-lead production.

Editor's notes

GE - Aviation, with responsibility for 60 percent of the F136 program, is developing the core compressor and coupled high-pressure/low-pressure turbine system components, controls and accessories, and the augmentor. Rolls-Royce, with 40 percent of the F136 program, is responsible for the front fan, combustor, stages 2 and 3 of the low-pressure turbine, and gearboxes. International participant countries are also contributing to the F136 through involvement in engine development and component manufacturing.

The Fighter Engine Team reached an important milestone this in 2008 with successful completion of Critical Design Review (CDR), validating the unique design of the engine. The F136 program remains on schedule and within budget and is funded by the US Government for FY 2009. More than 50 percent of the SDD funding for the engine has already been appropriated and the US Government has invested more than $2 Billion in the program.

The new Site 7 at the GE test facility represents a multi-million dollar investment by the company in the F136 development program. Additional tests also occurred this year at GE's Evendale facility, as well as the US Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee.

The Fighter Engine Team's pre-SDD engines have totaled more than 700 hours of test time, contributing significantly to risk reduction in the program. The testing has included multiple simulated flying conditions, at high-altitude and sea-level, with full afterburner and STOVL operations.

The SDD phase is scheduled to run through 2013; the first production F136 engines are scheduled to be delivered in 2012 for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. This occurs during the fourth lot of F-35 aircraft production, which is very early in the overall aircraft production program.

About 800 engineers and technicians are engaged in the F136 program at GE Aviation's Cincinnati, Ohio, headquarters, and at Rolls-Royce facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Bristol, England.

The F-35 is a next-generation, multi-role stealth aircraft designed to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet and the United Kingdom's Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier, all of which are currently powered by GE or Rolls-Royce making them the engine powers of choice for the U.S. and U.K. militaries. Potential F-35 production for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marines and international customers may reach as many as 5000 to 6000 aircraft over the next 30 years.

For further information, contact:

Rick Kennedy rick.l.kennedy@ae.ge.com U.S.: 513.243.3372

George McLaren george.h.mclaren@rolls-royce.com U.S.: 317.230.8260

Nick Britton nick.britton@rolls-royce.com U.K.: 44.117.979.5943