Rolls-Royce RB.162

Rolls-Royce RB.162
Name	Rolls-Royce RB.162
Country	United Kingdom
Type	Turbofan (lift-jet)
First run	1960s
Designer	Rolls-Royce Limited
Status	Out of production

Rolls-Royce RB.162 The Rolls-Royce RB.162 was a British lightweight lift turbofan developed in the 1960s for vertical takeoff and landing projects associated with V/STOL and rotorcraft research. It was produced by Rolls-Royce Limited to provide high thrust-to-weight performance for experimental aircraft and influenced subsequent gas turbine developments in aerospace and defense sectors. The RB.162 powered several prototype platforms and participated in trials linked to aerospace firms and governmental programs during the Cold War era.

Development

The RB.162 emerged during a period of intense aeronautical innovation involving Rolls-Royce Limited, Short Brothers, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, British Aircraft Corporation, Sikorsky Aircraft, and research establishments such as Royal Aircraft Establishment, Aeronautical Research Council, and NASA. Funding and interest came from ministries including the Ministry of Aviation (United Kingdom), the United States Department of Defense, and NATO-associated research initiatives. Its development paralleled projects like the Hawker Siddeley P.1127, the Bristol Siddeley Pegasus programme, and experimental programs at Edgware and Brough, with engineering input from firms such as Derwent Engineering and consultancy from Schlumberger-affiliated specialists. Aerodynamic and propulsion trade studies referenced contemporary work at Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, and Rolls-Royce plc precursor groups, while aircraft integration dialogues involved British Aerospace, Fairey Aviation Company, and Westland Helicopters.

Design

The RB.162 featured a lightweight centrifugal-compressor-driven core paired with a short bypass duct to deliver high thrust per unit weight, an architecture examined in parallel with competitors at SNECMA, GE Aviation, and Allison Engine Company. Materials technology incorporated high-strength alloys developed by MK Metals collaborators and thermal coatings influenced by Imperial Chemical Industries, Huntsman Corporation, and researchers at University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. Fuel and lubrication systems aligned with standards from Shell plc and BP, while instrumentation and control components were sourced from Ferranti, Marconi plc, and Rolls-Royce Controls and Data Services. The engine’s modular construction echoed approaches taken by Motorenfabrik Hirth and BMW AG in Europe and was tested on rigs at Boscombe Down and RAF Boscombe Down facilities alongside trials coordinated with National Aeronautical Establishment partners.

Operational history

Prototype RB.162 engines underwent bench and flight testing at facilities including RAF Boscombe Down, RNAS Yeovilton, and Dunsfold Aerodrome. Airframe integrations involved trials on the Hawker Siddeley Harrier development lineage, instrumented evaluations with Short SC.1 testbeds, and helicopter interest from Westland and Sikorsky engineering teams. Demonstrations drew attention from delegations representing Royal Australian Air Force, United States Navy, German Air Force, and EU aerospace procurement observers from Bundeswehr and Armée de l'Air (France). Data from RB.162 programs informed subsequent designs at Rolls-Royce plc and industrial collaborations with BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin on lift-fan and directed-thrust concepts.

Variants

Several RB.162 variants were developed to suit different installation and thrust requirements, paralleling variant strategies used by Pratt & Whitney Canada and CFM International. Designations reflected changes to the compressor, turbine materials, and accessory gearbox arrangements compatible with airframes from Hawker Siddeley, Short Brothers, and experimental platforms evaluated at Royal Aircraft Establishment laboratories. Modifications included adaptations for marine and industrial powerplants considered by engineering houses such as Siemens and Alstom.

Applications

The RB.162 found application primarily in experimental and prototype aircraft contexts: testbed installations on the Short SC.1 and evaluation use with V/STOL demonstrators related to the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 lineage. It was assessed by companies including Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Short Brothers, Westland, Sikorsky, and Bell Helicopter for lift augmentation and emergency power roles. Research collaborations involved institutions like Royal Aircraft Establishment, British Aerospace, NASA, and international partners from CNES, DLR, and CIRA.

Specifications

General characteristics included compact axial-centrifugal core arrangements and high-power-to-weight ratios comparable to lift-jets produced by Bristol Siddeley and SNECMA in the same era. Systems engineering drew on component practice from Rolls-Royce plc heritage programs and accessory designs employed by Hamilton Sundstrand and Honeywell International. Test performance metrics were recorded at establishments such as Royal Aircraft Establishment, NATO test ranges, and Boscombe Down, informing industrial follow-ons in collaboration with BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin.

Category:Aircraft engines Category:Rolls-Royce engines