News / Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce fighter jet deal with Japan will secure jobs in Filton
It has been revealed that jobs in Bristol will be generated via a deal between the UK and Japan which looks to develop a joint jet engine demonstrator.
At least 50 jobs at Filton’s Rolls-Royce base will be supported by an agreement that will see the British aerospace giant collaborate with Tokyo-headquartered engineering firm IHI Corporation.
The total number of jobs is expected to increase from 2023 subject to the output of the programmes first phase, which will look to establish the demonstrator design requirements and associated collaboration arrangements.
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Rolls-Royce have said that the technology that will be “fundamental to the future of the defence industry”.
Rolls-Royce opened their £25m Innovation Centre in 2020 – photo courtesy of Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce, which also has a base in Derby, recently reported in December cuts of 8,500 jobs as part of cost-cutting restructure to the firm.
In the same month, the UK and Japan announced plans jointly develop a future fighter aircraft engine demonstrator as part of the country’s combat air strategy.
The aim of the plans is to “explore further combat air technologies together in future”.
Following in the footsteps of a relationship that spans more than 100 years, the work between Japan and the British engineering firm is set to begin this year.
Initially, the UK plans to invest £30m in planning, digital designs and innovative manufacturing developments.
The highly skilled jobs at Rolls-Royce’s Bristol base to develop a full-scale demonstrator power system will be paid for through a pot of £200m of UK funding.
Rolls-Royce teamed up in 2020 with the UK Space Agency as part of the first study into nuclear power options for space exploration – photo courtesy of Rolls Royce
Enabled by a ‘memorandum of cooperation’, which facilitates both nations to pursue joint technologies, it is hoped plans will “deepen and expand defence industrial relationships in the Indo-Pacific region”.
Alex Zino, director of business development and future programmes at Rolls-Royce, said: “Across Rolls-Royce we have a longstanding and valued relationship with our customers and industry partners in Japan.
“The industry teams in both UK and Japan bring complementary technologies that will drive cleaner, next generation power and propulsion for both nations future fighter requirements.
“The joint engine demonstrator programme is an exciting opportunity to bring together some of the best combat air capabilities in the world and will also enable the development of innovative and critical technologies that will be fundamental to the future of the defence aerospace industry.”
Main photo by Rolls Royce
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