Alliant Techsystems has agreed to a contract valued in excess of $200 million with Rolls-Royce to produce composite aft fan cases for the new Trent XWB engine. Under the contract with Rolls Royce ATK becomes a partner on the Trent XWB program. The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB is the sole engine currently available to power the new Airbus A350 XWB family of aircraft. So far Rolls Royce has received orders for over 1,000 Trent XWB engines.
In addition to fabricating the aft fan cases, ATK will integrate additional components into the cases to deliver a finished aft case in support of Rolls-Royce’s assembly of the full fan case module.
The first ATK-fabricated Trent XWB aft fan case is scheduled for delivery to Rolls-Royce in late 2009. Initial ground testing of the Trent XWB is due to commence in 2010, with maiden flight on the new Airbus twinjet scheduled for 2012. Support of the Rolls-Royce design effort and initial production of the Trent XWB aft fan cases will begin immediately.
