RR opens facility at RAF base

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LONDON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- British engine maker Rolls-Royce has announced the opening of a Service Delivery Center at a Royal Air Force base.

Specialist company engineers at the center -- located at the RAF base Marham in Norfolk -- will provide support services in conjunction with RAF counterparts for RB199 engines, which are used to power Tornado aircraft.

"This new Service Delivery Center is an excellent example of Rolls-Royce and the Royal Air Force working in close partnership at the heart of our customer's operations," said Rolls-Royce Chief Executive John Rishton. "It will enable us to maximize engine time on-wing and improve response times on critical operational decisions."

Construction of the facility began in April last year and was completed in September. It was officially opened Friday in a ceremony attended by senior RAF and Rolls-Royce personnel. Among its features are live video links to the Rolls-Royce Operations Center in Bristol to facilitate real-time decision making on engine issues.

"This state of the art facility will provide critical support to the Royal Air Force's Tornado fleet so that it can continue to deliver the first-rate operational capability for which the force is justifiably famous," said chief of the air staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. "We are grateful for the essential support that our industry partners provide; their work, in true partnership with the Royal Air Force, has and will continue to deliver world class performance on operations and in training."