Bristol’s reputation as a centre of excellence for the global aerospace industry was given a boost this week as Rolls-Royce unveiled a multi-million pound plant developing unique vertical lift engine technology.
The £20m state-of-the-art LiftWorks facility on the UK engineering giant’s Filton site is already producing the company’s world-beating the LiftSystem, which provides US-built F-35 fighter jets with a fan propulsion system that allows them to take off over short distances, hover, swivel mid-air and land vertically. 
The technology – which has its heritage in the Bristol-developed pioneering system used on the world’s first STOVL military aircraft, the Harrier ‘jump jet’ – is vital to the F-35s being able to operate from aircraft carriers.
It comes ahead of the stealth jets completing their historic first trials off the flight deck of Britain’s largest ever warship HMS Queen Elizabeth.
LiftWorks will support more than 100 jobs following the transformation of the former defence manufacturing building into an advanced facility dedicated to developing the unique technology.
Defence minister Stuart Andrew, pictured officially opening the building, said: “As we build up to the iconic first F-35 take-offs from our brand-new aircraft carrier, it is timely to open this Bristol site which is making it all possible.
“The incredibly powerful systems made at this hi-tech facility mean our jets will be able to operate from British sovereign territory anywhere across the world’s seas to fight any adversaries which threaten us.
“The F-35 programme is the biggest in the history of defence and is supporting a hundred jobs here at LiftWorks – as well as thousands more right across the country.”
The LiftSystem – which has a thrust strong enough to lift 17 Mini cars and a clutch that provides enough torque to turn the London Eye – was designed and developed by teams of engineers at Rolls-Royce engineers in Bristol and its US sister plant in Indianapolis.
The Bristol site is not only making the LiftFan for UK jets, but for all F-35B jets on order across the world. Production at the site has been building up since 2009, with the official opening now marking the fact that the facility is heading towards peak manufacturing levels.
British companies are building 15% by value of all 3,000 F-35s planned for production. It is projected that around £35bn will be contributed to the UK economy through the programme, with around 25,000 British jobs also being supported.
Liftworks is one of a number of cutting-edge manufacturing sites across the UK contributing to the wider Rolls-Royce LiftSystem contract for the F35 programme. Some 40% of the work under this contract takes place in the UK, supporting 900 jobs across the supply chain.
During the visit, the minister unveiled a plaque marking the official opening before touring the facility, where he met employees, apprentices and graduates.
Chief of materiel (Air) for the MoD’s procurement agency, Defence Equipment and Support, Air Marshal Julian Young, said: “The STOVL system on the UK’s F-35B Lightning II fleet has been performing exceptionally well for the Lightning Force.
“We saw this earlier this summer when F-35s used the Vertical Landing Pads at RAF Marham for the first time. The opening of the new LiftWorks facility at Rolls-Royce promises even greater enhancements to this pioneering technology.
Rolls-Royce director of customer business defence Alex Zino said: “Rolls-Royce has pioneered STOVL technology through our development of the Pegasus engine for the Harrier and has now taken that capability to new levels in the shape of the LiftSystem for the F-35B.
“This new facility enables us to continue produce cutting edge technology to our customer while also ensuring that we are reducing their costs.”
The F-35B Lightning multi-role fighter jet is the first to combine radar-evading stealth technology with supersonic speeds and short take-off and vertical landing capability.
