This is where: Purdue and Rolls-Royce safeguard our future

A group of Purdue students and researchers.

“I work right alongside other Boilermakers,” says Tonya Munevar, a testing outsource manager at Rolls-Royce who earned a master’s degree in technology and research from Purdue in 2011. (Purdue University photo/Rebecca Robiños)

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Leaders in academia and industry are advancing aerospace research together

Who knows how to stay one step ahead?

From state-of-the-art facilities in West Lafayette, Purdue and Rolls-Royce are leading the world in what’s next for aerospace research. 

“Purdue is a world-class research institution and a top university in the U.S. for engineering aeronautics and astronautics,” says Warren White, head of assembly and testing at Rolls-Royce. “Our partnership is strengthened by an aligned interest in transformative technologies in civil and defense aerospace.” 

For over 70 years, this partnership has safeguarded national security and provided innovative solutions. Today, it continues to lead progress in critical fields, including advanced manufacturing, compressor and turbine technologies, and hybrid-electric and hypersonic propulsion.

What the partnership prioritizes

While technological capabilities have advanced significantly since Purdue first used Rolls-Royce engines for a post-World War II project, one thing has remained constant: the Purdue and Rolls-Royce partnership has remained at the forefront of futuristic feats.  

The two organizations are pioneering the next iterations of U.S. military aircraft. In 2003, Purdue was designated as the first Rolls-Royce University Technology Center (UTC) partner in the U.S.  

“Giant leaps in aerospace happen here,” White says. “We are proud to be working with Purdue to advance these efforts.”

Those giant leaps include forging a more sustainable future in aviation by employing hybrid-electrical technology instead of relying on fossil fuels; overcoming challenging operating environments with improved high-altitude testing; and helping aircraft reach high speeds with hypersonic systems. 

Where collaboration takes place

Boilermakers don’t have to travel anywhere to find extraordinary opportunities — because of Purdue’s status as a UTC, students have access to top-tier facilities, a network of notable leaders plus work-study, co-op and intern positions.  

“I chose Purdue because our chemical propulsion and combustion research is unmatched,” says Tristan Shahin, a PhD student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. “Students are given ownership over the design, fabrication and operation of experiments that utilize pressures, temperatures and flowrates. Our work has direct relevance to government and industry partners.”  

“The competition for engineering resources has never been fiercer,” White says. “Our relationship with Purdue has been instrumental in developing a strong pipeline of talent. Today more than 700 Rolls-Royce engineers have a degree from Purdue.”

In 2022, Purdue and Rolls-Royce signed the largest industry-academia deal in the university’s history: a 10-year, $75 million strategic alliance. Since then, major investments have benefited Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories — the largest academic propulsion laboratory in the world — as well as the Hypersonics and Applied Research Facility (HARF), home to the only Mach 8 quiet wind tunnel in the world and the hypersonic pulse (HYPULSE) reflected shock/expansion tunnel. 

“I work right alongside other Boilermakers,” says Tonya Munevar, a testing outsource manager at Rolls-Royce who earned a master’s degree in technology and research from Purdue in 2011. “A personal highlight for me is supporting the students as they transition from theoretical thinking to industry practice while helping them understand and adapt to the new expectations.”

When security matters most

Ever-evolving capabilities place even more pressure on not only being prepared for today but being able to anticipate the challenges of tomorrow. Global rivals’ attempts at ensuring dominance have led the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to seek new opportunities with academia and industry partners.  

Research between Purdue and Rolls-Royce aligns with critical technology areas designated by the DOD, including the implementation of innovative and cost-effective hypersonic systems. Advancements in the field of high-speed flight will further bolster the nation’s air, land and sea operational forces.    

Purdue’s Hypersonics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, located within HARF, hosts the only vertically integrated prototyping center in the U.S. Researchers can complete the designing, manufacturing, joining and testing of hypersonic components in one location. There, new systems can be developed quickly — long before competitors.

Giant leaps in aerospace happen here. We are proud to be working with Purdue to advance these efforts.

Warren White Head of assembly and testing at Rolls-Royce

Students and researchers regularly test components for Rolls-Royce that end up in industry-changing aircraft, like the V-22 Osprey that combines the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed of a top aircraft. Teams in West Lafayette work on Rolls-Royce engine lines fit for tiltrotor, rotorcraft and energy applications.

Why we persist

Every year, new projects in West Lafayette propel the world forward. The Discovery Park District at Purdue is a launch pad for businesses, from Fortune 100 companies to early-stage startups. Rolls-Royce has involved those on campus, in the West Lafayette community and across the state of Indiana to strengthen a global network.  

“Working with partners like Rolls-Royce highlights Purdue’s involvement in shaping the future of aerospace propulsion,” Shahin says. “It’s easy to see the broader impact of our work when we’re turning wrenches on hardware that actively flies in aircraft.” 

“Over the next decade, we’ll continue to explore transformative technologies in civil and defense aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and materials science,” White says. “Together we will help define the future ways to power, protect and connect people everywhere.”