Rolls-Royce says its Indianapolis-based research unit LibertyWorks recently conducted an initial test on the company's YJ102R engine. Officials say the high-specific thrust engine, being developed under an Air Force Research Laboratory High Speed Turbine Engine Demonstration contract, was successfully completed.

HiSTED, designed with Rolls-Royce's Lamilloy technologies that enable greater fuel economy, is an initiative by the Air Force and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to ground-test a high-Mach expendable turbine engine.

"Partnering with the Department of Defense to create this new capability is an exciting opportunity for LibertyWorks," Phil Burkholder, LibertyWorks chief operating officer, said in a statement.

"The unique, power-dense design of this engine has the potential to take high-Mach propulsion to the next level. Validating the progress achieved to date is a significant milestone and critical for the HiSTED program."