ROLLS-ROYCE HOLDINGS PLC
The Rolls-
* First time an aircraft has flown in the
* Potential to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% while improving operational effectiveness
* Another key step by the RAF towards achieving Net Zero by 2040
An RAF Voyager - the military variant of an Airbus A330 - took to the skies over Oxfordshire powered entirely by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), paving the way for a range of possibilities for the future of flying military and civilian aircraft.
The flight, which took place on Wednesday, was a joint endeavour between the RAF, DE&S and industry partners Rolls-Royce, Airbus and AirTanker, with the fuel supplied by Air
Rolls-Royce has played a vital role in enabling the flight to take place, by securing the technical approval for sustainable aviation fuel use on the Rolls-
Prior to the Voyager flight, Rolls-Royce conducted a number of successful trials with sustainable aviation fuel on aircraft powered by their engines. This forms part of the organisational commitment to demonstrate sustainable aviation fuel compatibility on their products as part of the organisation's net zero roadmap.
'Across Rolls-Royce we are committed to partnering with our customers to help them become more resilient to climate change. Ensuring our engines are compatible with sustainable aviation fuel is just one of the ways we are doing this.
This flight demonstrates what we can achieve through effective collaboration between industry and our armed forces customers, and I am delighted to see that those partnerships have enabled this achievement to take place.'
Sustainable aviation fuel - which is made from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil - reduces lifecycle carbon emissions on average by up to 80% compared to the conventional jet fuel it replaces, lessens the RAF's reliance on global supply chains, and improves operational resilience.
Defence Minister
'The
'Through the RAF's pioneering spirit, expertise and partnership with
Different approaches will suit different platforms and environments. As such, a range of alternative fuel options are being looked at to ensure the
This success follows last November's small aircraft
The 90-minute flight from RAF Brize Norton, flown by a combined RAF, Rolls-Royce and Airbus flight test crew, replicated an air-to-air refuelling sortie and was witnessed by senior RAF and industry representatives. It demonstrated the RAF's potential for its future operational capability, ensuring the ability to contribute to
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief
'Climate change is a transnational challenge that threatens our resilience, our security and our collective prosperity. That is why I have set the RAF the ambitious challenge of becoming the world's first net-zero
'This exciting trial flight of a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an important milestone on that journey, and marks another technological first for the RAF alongside our industry partners.'
Engineers from Airbus' Commercial Aircraft and Defence and Space divisions have been working with the RAF, Rolls-Royce and Airtanker testing the aircraft's performance and handling on the ground and in the air in preparation for the final flight with both engines powered by 100% SAF.
Aviation Minister at the
'Our Jet Zero Strategy made clear that sustainable aviation fuels are key to green flight for both military and civilian aviation.
'This is a win for the planet and a testament to British ingenuity. We have launched the
This breakthrough test flight is just one of the ways the RAF is actively working to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions produced by flying its aircraft. Other innovations have included a world-first, record breaking microlight flight using synthetic fuel, flying an electric aircraft at RAF Cranwell and creating fuel from genetically modified bacteria.
While continuing to fulfil the priority focus of protecting the nation, the sustainable aviation fuel could mark a step-change towards the RAF's goal to be Net Zero by 2040. Working towards the Government's Net Zero 2050 goal and Jet Zero Strategy, the RAF also plans for their first Net Zero airbase by 2025.
In addition to supporting the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the Armed Forces, the Royal Air Force Commander in Chief HM King
Notes to editors:
This flight is the culmination of a year-long collaborative technical partnership between the RAF,
In the weeks leading up to the flight, a series of preliminary technical checks, engine ground runs and alternative engine runs took place, culminating in the final flight test using 100% SAF in both engines. Airbus engineers delivered all the technical documentation to a military permit-to-fly to be issued for a flight with a new sustainable fuel.
In
Defence has a strong record on environmental protection and has worked hard to embed sustainability in its policy, processes and planning for nearly two decades. The MOD's Climate Change and Sustainability Review enabled a renewed approach spanning all elements of Defence, including equipment,
As well as reducing carbon emissions, SAF is also about the RAF ensuring future operational capability. RAF aircraft are already capable of using a 50:50 blend of SAF and normal aviation, but there is insufficient SAF produced to make it readily available or cost-effective. The 100% SAF test flight does three things:
It gathers technical data to understand the engineering and approvals challenges required to prepare military aircraft to use up to 100% SAF;
It acts as a signal to the wider aviation industry of the need and willingness to change; and
These two things help to secure future RAF operations by paving the way to being able to operate our aircraft worldwide in the future on SAF fuels as they inevitably begin to proliferate.
About
Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 (excluding product testing) and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
Annual underlying revenue was
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