Rolls-Royce breaks ground on US Navy support facility

Courtesy Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce officially launched construction with a ground breaking this week for the 24,000 square foot facility that will enhance and modernise the company’s naval operations in Walpole.

Upon completion, Rolls-Royce’s flagship Naval Defense facility will add water jet maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) servicing to its portfolio of capabilities. Rolls-Royce expects demand for spare equipment and MRO services associated with the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme to ramp up beginning next year. Each Freedom class variant of the LCS is equipped with four Rolls-Royce waterjets.

Rolls-Royce continues to provide unparalleled products and services to the US Navy. The company is the sole supplier of shock-rated propeller systems, which have demonstrated extraordinary levels of reliability and robustness in service. Rolls-Royce Propulsion equipment can be found on more than 95% of the US Navy Surface Warfare fleet.

Tom Bell, Rolls-Royce plc President – Defense and Rolls-Royce North America Chairman & CEO said: “We’re excited to announce this important investment in our naval business. Rolls-Royce is bringing critical new capabilities to the region, reaffirming our strong commitment to the US and our largest global Defense customer – the US Department of Defense.

“The new facility in Walpole is just one of many significant US investments Rolls-Royce Defense will highlight in 2020, as we continue to provide world-class American made products and services to support the US military around the world.”

For more than 50 years, Rolls-Royce Walpole has delivered key ship propulsor systems for Naval Defense customers. From design and development through aftermarket support and product servicing, it provides the power that matters for customers across a broad range of applications.

Rolls-Royce supports more than 70 navies worldwide, including our largest customer, the US Navy. We provide propulsion products for a wide range of US Navy platforms including Frigates, Destroyers, Combatants, Submarines, Aircraft Carriers, Amphibious ships, Fleet Support and Auxiliary Ships, as well as US Coast Guard Cutters. Propulsion equipment includes Controllable-Pitch Propellers, Fixed-Pitch Propellers and Waterjets.

Rolls-Royce North America
Rolls-Royce employs 6,000 people in 27 states across the US, literally coast-to-coast, from southern California to Walpole, Massachusetts. Rolls-Royce also supports a total of 52,100 additional jobs across the US, adding $8.6 billion to the nation’s economy, according to a recent economic impact study. Rolls-Royce North America is a US-based subsidiary with a separate US board, leadership and security approved through the US Department of Defense.

Rolls-Royce has invested nearly $1 billion in Research and Development in the US since 2013.