Proactive Investors - Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LON:RR) said flight tests of a new business jet engine have begun as the manufacturer looks to move further into the corporate market.
From Arizona, USA, the Pearl 10X engine will power flights of Rolls-Royce’s Boeing (NYSE:BA) 747 testing jet over the coming months under the programme, a statement said on Wednesday.
These engines will ultimately power the Falcon 10X business jet, which is currently under development by French manufacturer Dassault.
We have liftoff!Say Hello to our very own #B747 Flying Testbed, which has started a series of flight tests of our #Pearl10X. This engine will be the most powerful in our #BizAv portfolio, powering @Dassault_OnAir new flagship, the #Falcon10X.https://t.co/4AtoxR4Ncf#RollsRoyce pic.twitter.com/CZXfAophA9
— Rolls-Royce (@RollsRoyce) April 3, 2024
“The start of flight testing is an important milestone for the Pearl 10X programme and for Rolls-Royce as it focuses on growing in the business aviation market,” the firm added.
Rolls-Royce had unveiled plans to double down on growth into the business aviation market at last November's capital markets day, as part of a wider strategic refocus on its core businesses.
These also included a renewed focus on its submarine, defence aerospace, widebody aviation and power generation units, as other wings faced disposal as part of boss Tufan Erginbilgic’s turnaround plan.
Rolls-Royce’s Pearl 10X will be the eighth business jet engine offered by the manufacturer, for “ultra-long-range connections” and travel at “close to the speed of sound.”
Shares climbed 0.2% to 419.80p on the news.