StandardAero Secures Long-Term Rolls-Royce Agreement to Support MT7 Engines for U.S. Navy Ship to Shore Connector Fleet
StandardAero, one of the aerospace industry’s leading independent providers of engine aftermarket services, has announced a significant new agreement with Rolls-Royce to deliver long-term repair and overhaul support for the MT7 marine gas turbine engine. The work will be performed at StandardAero’s Maryville, Tennessee facility and will support the U.S. Navy’s Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) hovercraft fleet.
The agreement marks another milestone in the longstanding relationship between StandardAero and Rolls-Royce, while also strengthening maintenance support for a critical military transportation platform. The MT7 engine powers the U.S. Navy’s next-generation SSC vehicles, which were developed to replace the aging Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) fleet. With this contract, StandardAero will play a direct role in ensuring the operational readiness and lifecycle sustainment of one of the Navy’s most important amphibious transport assets.
Supporting a Critical Naval Mobility Platform
The Ship to Shore Connector is a modernized air-cushion landing craft designed to move troops, heavy vehicles, equipment, and cargo from amphibious assault ships to shore. The platform is a key element of U.S. naval expeditionary operations, allowing forces to rapidly deploy resources in coastal environments where traditional landing craft may face limitations.
The SSC program was launched to replace the legacy LCAC fleet, which had served the Navy for decades. While the LCAC transformed amphibious logistics through its high-speed hovercraft capability, the newer SSC introduces greater payload capacity, improved reliability, enhanced survivability, and updated systems designed for future operational requirements.
One of the SSC’s most important advantages is its ability to access a vast portion of the world’s coastlines. Military planners have noted that the craft can reach approximately 80% of global shorelines, making it highly valuable for both combat missions and humanitarian assistance operations. This capability enables the Navy and Marine Corps to move personnel and supplies quickly in areas with limited port infrastructure or difficult terrain.
By providing dependable MT7 engine support, StandardAero will help maintain this strategic mobility capability for the U.S. Navy.
The Role of the MT7 Marine Gas Turbine Engine
At the heart of the SSC hovercraft is the Rolls-Royce MT7 marine gas turbine engine. The MT7 was selected because of its proven technology, performance, and strong parts commonality with an existing military aviation engine platform.
The MT7 shares approximately 90% common architecture with the Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engine, which powers the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. This commonality creates major logistical and operational benefits. By using similar components and engineering designs, the Navy can simplify spare parts inventories, streamline training requirements, and reduce long-term sustainment costs.
The engine also delivers the power necessary for hovercraft operations, enabling the SSC to carry heavy payloads while maintaining speed and maneuverability over water, beaches, marshlands, and other challenging surfaces.
Because the MT7 is derived from an established aerospace engine platform, it benefits from mature technology and an existing maintenance ecosystem. That ecosystem now expands further through StandardAero’s new support agreement.
StandardAero’s Experience with Rolls-Royce Engines
StandardAero brings decades of military engine support experience to the program. The company has long been trusted by the U.S. government and defense operators to maintain Rolls-Royce engine families used across multiple mission platforms.
Since 2018, StandardAero has served as a fully licensed Rolls-Royce Authorized Maintenance Center (AMC) for the AE 1107C engine. That certification positioned the company as a qualified provider for engines powering the V-22 Osprey, one of the most advanced and widely deployed tiltrotor aircraft in military service.
Beyond the AE 1107C, StandardAero also supports several other Rolls-Royce engine models, including:
- AE 2100 – used in military transport and special mission aircraft
- AE 3007 – powering defense and commercial platforms
- T56 Series III, 3.5, and IV – supporting aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and other legacy fleets
This broad engine portfolio demonstrates the company’s technical depth and ability to manage complex military propulsion systems across multiple fleets.
The addition of MT7 support further expands StandardAero’s defense sustainment footprint and reinforces its reputation as a trusted independent MRO provider.
Maryville Facility to Lead Engine Support Operations
The maintenance work under the new agreement will be carried out at StandardAero’s Maryville, Tennessee facility. The site is one of the company’s most important military engine service centers and has developed significant capabilities in overhaul, repair, inspection, and engineering support.
According to company leadership, the Maryville facility has the capacity to process more than 600 engines per year. This scale provides an important advantage for defense customers seeking rapid turnaround times and dependable fleet availability.
The site also benefits from an experienced workforce trained in servicing complex turbine engines. Technicians, engineers, and logistics teams collaborate to deliver maintenance solutions that meet demanding military readiness standards.
As naval operators continue to rely on the SSC fleet for expeditionary missions, the Maryville facility will become a central hub for sustaining MT7 propulsion systems over the long term.
Leadership Comments on the Agreement
Marc Drobny, President of StandardAero’s Military, Helicopter and Energy Division, emphasized the significance of the company’s longstanding relationship with Rolls-Royce and its commitment to U.S. military readiness.
He noted that StandardAero has supported Rolls-Royce engine families for several decades and has serviced thousands of military engines through its facilities. He also highlighted the company’s engineering expertise, including the development of Rolls-Royce-approved repairs that offer operators cost-effective and reliable solutions.
Drobny added that the company values its long-term partnership with Rolls-Royce and is proud to contribute to keeping U.S. military fleets mission-ready.
These comments underscore how maintenance support is no longer just about routine repairs. Modern MRO providers increasingly contribute engineering improvements, lifecycle cost reductions, and faster readiness restoration for defense customers.
Importance for U.S. Navy Readiness
For the Navy, engine availability is directly tied to mission readiness. Amphibious forces depend on hovercraft such as the SSC to move combat vehicles, artillery, supplies, and personnel between ships and shore quickly and safely.
Any disruption in engine maintenance can affect deployment schedules, training cycles, and contingency response timelines. By establishing a long-term agreement with a proven engine specialist, Rolls-Royce and the Navy gain greater confidence in sustainment planning.
The contract also supports broader defense goals of maintaining resilient industrial supply chains. Working with an established U.S.-based maintenance provider helps reduce reliance on fragmented repair networks while ensuring technical support remains close to military operators.
Growing Demand for Specialized Defense MRO
The agreement also reflects a larger trend in the aerospace and defense sectors: increasing reliance on specialized aftermarket providers. As military fleets age and new platforms enter service, armed forces need partners capable of supporting advanced propulsion systems efficiently.
Independent MRO companies like StandardAero bring flexibility, dedicated engineering resources, and scalable capacity that complement original equipment manufacturers. This hybrid support model helps governments manage budgets while maintaining readiness.
For StandardAero, the MT7 agreement adds another strategic defense program to its portfolio and may open doors for future naval propulsion opportunities.
StandardAero is recognized globally as a major independent provider of aerospace engine aftermarket services for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The company serves commercial aviation, military customers, and business aviation operators through a broad range of maintenance and support offerings.
Its services include:
- Engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul
- Engine component repair
- On-wing and field service support
- Asset management solutions
- Engineering and technical services
With extensive global operations and decades of technical expertise, StandardAero has built a strong position in one of the aviation industry’s most critical segments.
The long-term MT7 support agreement between StandardAero and Rolls-Royce represents more than a maintenance contract. It is a strategic partnership focused on sustaining a mission-critical U.S. Navy capability.
As the Ship to Shore Connector fleet continues to replace legacy LCAC craft and expand operational deployment, dependable engine support will be essential. StandardAero’s Maryville facility, combined with its experience on Rolls-Royce military engines, places the company in a strong position to help meet those needs.
For the Navy, the result is improved readiness for amphibious missions worldwide. For Rolls-Royce, it strengthens aftermarket support for an important engine platform. And for StandardAero, it further cements its role as a key player in military aviation and defense propulsion sustainment.
Source link: https://www.businesswire.com/