RNS Number:8540B 
Rolls-Royce PLC 
30 September 2002 
 
                                                               30 September 2002 
 
 
 
 
 
                  ROLLS-ROYCE CELEBRATES UK'S CHOICE OF STOVL 
 
 
Rolls-Royce plc, the company responsible for short take-off vertical landing 
(STOVL) technology for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), today welcomed the UK's 
choice of the STOVL variant of JSF to fulfil its Future Joint Combat Aircraft 
requirement. 
 
The company anticipates a production revenue of approximately $3 billion from a 
successful UK/US JSF STOVL production programme. The current forecast 
requirement for JSF STOVL aircraft is for more than 750 for the UK, the US 
Marine Corps and a number of export customers. 
 
John Rose, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, said today: "This is a very positive 
decision by the UK Government which opens up significant opportunities for 
Rolls-Royce and its many suppliers. Rolls-Royce is the only company capable of 
delivering this technology and the government's decision will enable us to 
demonstrate it in action. 
 
"The JSF design embodies world-leading new technologies that will keep 
Rolls-Royce at the forefront of advanced propulsion development and maintain our 
leadership in this market." 
 
In December 2001, Rolls-Royce signed a ten-year contract worth approximately $1 
billion for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the 
programme.  This covers design and development work on the innovative 
LiftFan(TM), the roll posts, and the three bearing swivel module and nozzle 
system that together provide the STOVL capability for the JSF. 
 
During the Concept Demonstrator Phase, the STOVL system underwent rigorous 
testing and performed flawlessly, meeting all performance and operability 
requirements. 
 
The importance of the STOVL work was recognised by the aerospace industry when 
the Integrated LiftFanTM Propulsion System team, of which Rolls-Royce was 
obviously a key member, won the prestigious U.S. 2001 Collier Trophy for its 
work on JSF STOVL. 
 
Rolls-Royce involvement in JSF STOVL development is led and programme managed by 
its Bristol, UK site and strongly supported by its Indianapolis, U.S. facility, 
utilising the strengths of its global organisation.  Approximately 1200 UK and 
US jobs in Rolls-Royce and the supply chain will be sustained by JSF during the 
development phase: during production that figure will almost treble. 
 
With its participation in JSF and its share in the EJ200 engine for the 
Eurofighter combat aircraft, Rolls-Royce has a leading position in two of the 
world's biggest fighter engine programmes. 
 
 
 
For further information please contact: 
 
 
 
Colin Duncan 
 
Rolls-Royce plc 
 
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7222 9020 
 
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7227 9178 
 
Email: colin.duncan@Rolls-Royce.com 
 
Web: www.Rolls-Royce.com 
 
 
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