Rolls-Royce secures £198 million contract to support UK Pegasus fleet

Rolls-Royce has been awarded a £198 million contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to support the Pegasus engines which provide the Harrier fleet with its unique Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) capability.

The 10-year contract provides a guaranteed level of availability of Pegasus engines to power the aircraft operating in the UK’s Joint Force Harrier, which is operated by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

Under the terms of the contract, Rolls-Royce will undertake all aspects of engine support, including the provision of replacement engines to meet customer demands, and technical support both at operating locations and from the Rolls-Royce state-of-the art facilities in Bristol.

The contract will be managed from the company’s Bristol site, with some activities taking place at RAF Wittering and the main repair and overhaul work will be undertaken at the Rolls-Royce facility in Ansty.

Martin Fausset, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, said: “I am delighted that we have signed this important support contract with the MOD, which means that Rolls-Royce now provides a guaranteed level of availability for all engines powering the UK’s Typhoon, Tornado and Harrier aircraft"

“We have built a relationship with the MOD that drives innovation and assures value for money, and we are incentivised to continuously improve the efficiency of the services that we provide. I am confident that the Pegasus contract will build on the success of the existing RB199 and EJ200 engine availability contracts in supporting the UK’s operational capability.”

Group Captain Andy Ebdon, Harrier Integrated Project Team Leader at the Ministry of Defence said: “Awarding this contract to Rolls-Royce for complete through-life support of Pegasus is a very significant achievement. It not only assures affordable engine availability, but also incentivises both industry and the MOD to actively work together to improve efficiency. The end effect is better value for money and improved support performance for the front.”