Rolls-Royce pursues rival’s technology

Rolls-Royce, the world’s No 2 commercial jet-engine maker, will pursue geared turbofan technology championed by rival Pratt & Whitney as it seeks to power future Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

The so-called UltraFan would be available from 2025 and offer about 10% greater efficiency than the TrentXWB, the engine maker’s most modern turbine, said Simon Carlisle, executive vice president for future programmes at Rolls-Royce’s civil aerospace division.

The UltraFan would build on the so-called Advanced engine, a technology upgrade due from 2020. “The demands of the industry are becoming much greater,” Carlisle said. “We need to make sure we don’t stand still.”