Rolls-Royce to supply engines, spares for US Air Force Hercules fleet

British defence and aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has bagged a $100-million order from the US Air Force to supply engines and spare parts for  C-130 ''Hercules'' cargo aircraft.

The order comes just a few days after the world's second-largest aircraft engine maker announced that it will cut 2,600 jobs over the next 18 months as part of its restructuring plan to reduce cost across the group. (See: Rolls-Royce to cut 2,600 jobs in restructuring)

Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engines power all C-130J aircraft in the US military and global fleets, while the C-130 aircraft are powered by Rolls-Royce T56 engines.

Tom Hartmann, Rolls-Royce, senior vice president, Customer Business, said, ''Rolls-Royce  AE 2100 engines provide the dependable, efficient power required by the US Air Force and our allies to complete their transport missions with the C-130J fleet.''

The AE 2100 is part of the Rolls-Royce AE family of engines, and has sold nearly 6,000 engines which have clocked more than 61 million flight hours across the military and commercial fleets.

The order also comes on the same day when Chinese aircraft manufacturer Jiangsu A-Star signed a new long-term contract with Rolls-Royce worth more than $50 million for M250 turboprop engines for its Extra EA 500 aircraft.

Engines for the EA 500 aircraft will be assembled at Rolls-Royce facilities in Indianapolis, US, and shipped to Zhenjiang for installation.

Rolls-Royce said the two companies are also in discussions on maintenance, repair and overhaul, and other new service capabilities to support the Chinese market.

The Westminster, London-based company, which employs 55,000 people in 15 countries, had last month said that revenues for 2014 would be 3.5-to-4 per cent lower than expected mainly due to cuts in defence spending by western governments.

Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 120 countries, comprising more than 380 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and 1,600 energy and nuclear customers.

It posted 2013 revenues of £15.5 billion and order book stood at £70.4 billion as on 30 June 2014.