The Rolls Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, has been awarded a $96,270,179 indefinite-delivery vehicle requirements contract modification to previously awarded contract for C-130 aircraft fleet engine sustainment support. This contract modification incorporates an additional five-month option period to maintain continuity of services for the C-130 engine repairs. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2022. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $1,655,270,179. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity.
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. Externally similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J-model features considerably updated technology. These differences include new Rolls-Royce AE 2100 D3 turboprop engines with Dowty R391 composite scimitar propellers, digital avionics, and reduced crew requirements. These changes have improved performance over its C-130E/H predecessors, such as 40% greater range, 21% higher maximum speed, and 41% shorter takeoff distance.
The Rolls-Royce AE 2100 is a turboprop developed by Allison Engine Company, now part of Rolls-Royce North America. The engine was originally known as the GMA 2100, when Allison was a division of former corporate parent General Motors. A derivative of the Allison AE 1107C-Liberty (Rolls-Royce T406) turboshaft engine, the AE 2100 shares the same high-pressure core as that engine, as does the Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan. The AE 2100 is a two-shaft design,:?83–84? and it was the first to use dual FADECs (full authority digital engine control) to control both engine and propeller, allowing both to be adjusted with a single lever.
The AE 2100D3 engine is on the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules and LM-100J transport aircraft. The AE 2100D2 powers the Alenia C-27J Spartan medium airlifter and the AE 2100J powers the ShinMaywa US-2. The engine uses six-bladed, all-composite blade Dowty propellers, including the model R381 on the Saab 2000, R414 on the ShinMaywa US-2, R384 on the IPTN N-250, and R391 on the C-130J military transport and the LM-100J civil-certified version of the C-130J. The gearbox has a reduction ratio of about 14 and a mean time before unscheduled removal (MTBUR) of over 35,000 hours.
