Jet engine could boost Ind. economy

EVANDALE, Ohio (WISH) - Rolls-Royce is partnering with GE to develop the engine for a new generation of jet fighters. The engine could provide a little power for Central Indiana's economy.

Rolls-Royce vice president Mark Rhodes helped oversee the team developing the engine. It's called the F-136. It will power a new fighter jet, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

"It is clearly our biggest and most powerful fighter jet engine ever," said Jean Lydon-Rodgers of GE.

GE and Rolls-Royce showed off the engine Thursday at a GE plant in Evendale, Ohio. The federal government has given more than two billion dollars to the two companies to develop the engine. That money has already funded 200 well-paid engineering jobs in Indianapolis. It could lead to hundreds more well-paid manufacturing jobs in Indiana in the years ahead.

The companies will compete with Pratt and Whitney to sell as many of the engines as possible.

"We've been long-time rivals with Pratt for over 20 years," said Lydon-Rodgers.

Rolls-Royce and GE said their competition with Pratt and Whitney should create more incentive for all three companies to keep their costs down and save taxpayers money.

Rolls-Royce expects that competition to be fierce. Pratt and Whitney will get its engine to market three years before Rolls Royce and GE.

"We become available in 2012 with our first production engines and then we want to win at least half of those engines. So it's a huge business opportunity for us and one that's critically important to us," said Mark Rhodes.

It's also critically important to Hoosiers hungry for an improving job market.