- Rolls-Royce completed a $1 billion, decade-long investment in its Indiana manufacturing and test facilities.
- The investment modernized advanced manufacturing and added full engine-test capabilities in Indianapolis and West Lafayette.
- Rolls-Royce said the upgrade strengthens the U.S. defense industrial base and supports programs for aircraft like the B-52 and MV-75.
INDIANAPOLIS, U.S. — Rolls-Royce today announced the completion of a $1 billion investment in its Indiana manufacturing, assembly, and test facilities. The decade-long project aimed to modernize operations and enhance engine testing capabilities.
Rolls-Royce said in an emailed press release today that the investment reinforces its position as a cornerstone of America’s defense industrial base. It also establishes the company as one of Indiana’s leading advanced-manufacturing employers.
Facility Modernization
The $1 billion investment is the largest Rolls-Royce has made in the United States. It modernized advanced manufacturing across the Indianapolis campus. The project also added full engine-test capability. This includes new ground test facilities and an altitude test facility in West Lafayette. More Rolls-Royce defense products are built in Indianapolis than anywhere else globally.
Defense Programs and Economic Impact
The Indiana campus tests and builds engines for various defense and commercial platforms. These include future engines for the U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bomber and the U.S. Army’s MV-75 Cheyenne. Current engines for the V-22 Osprey, the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray, and the C-130J are also produced there. Rolls-Royce employs about 3,500 people in Indianapolis. This includes a skilled UAW workforce. The company supports thousands more jobs through its Indiana supply chain.
Across the United States, Rolls-Royce invested over $1.5 billion in facilities and nearly $2.5 billion in research and development over the past decade. In 2024, its U.S. operations contributed $6.2 billion to the national economy. This supported more than 30,000 jobs across 26 states, including R&D spillover. Rolls-Royce states that every dollar the U.S. government invests in the company returns an estimated four dollars to the U.S. economy.