Rolls-Royce is preparing to scale up production across its Pearl family of business-jet engines, anticipating sustained demand from aircraft makers like Bombardier and Gulfstream. The company is also pushing ahead with certification of the next big engine in the line: the Pearl 10X for the Dassault Falcon 10X.
Riding the Jet Demand Wave
The existing Pearl models already power notable business jets: the Pearl 15 is installed on Bombardier’s Global 5500 and 6500, while the Pearl 700 powers the Gulfstream G700 and G800. To date, about 700 Pearl 15 units have been built, and over 70 jets using the Pearl 700 have been delivered.
With the G700 and G800 expected to take over from the older BR725-powered G650 series, Rolls-Royce sees room to exceed the BR725’s lifetime volume — which ran to about 1,200 units at its close. According to senior Gulfstream and Rolls executives, the Pearl series has the “potential to exceed that by some margin.”
That ambition depends not just on new airframe programs but on the supply chain keeping pace. As one executive put it: “How do we ramp up and make sure that we keep pace with Gulfstream on engine deliveries?”
The Next Milestone: Pearl 10X
Meanwhile, all major testing for the Pearl 10X — which is destined for Dassault’s Falcon 10X ultra-long-range business jet — has been completed, and Rolls-Royce is preparing its certification package for EASA review. The firm declined to specify timing, but the engine is expected to enter service in line with the Falcon’s schedule.
The 10X variant is projected to be the most powerful in the Pearl series, topping the thrust of the Pearl 700’s 18,250 lb.—yet it must also meet efficiency, reliability, and maintenance targets to justify its deployment.
Challenges & Levers
Scaling production of high-performance jet engines is never easy. Key issues Rolls-Royce faces include:
- Supply chain tightness: Components, materials, and precision manufacturing must expand without compromising quality.
- Coordination with airframers: Engine deliveries must align with Gulfstream and Dassault’s production ramps.
- Certification risk: Any delays or regulatory concerns around the 10X could ripple across the lineup.
- Operational legacy: Rolls-Royce must manage support, parts, and maintenance for older engines while ramping newer models.
On the bright side, Rolls-Royce says its recent turnaround under new leadership has increased resilience and delivery capabilities across its business aviation division.
Why It Matters
If Rolls-Royce can successfully scale the Pearl line and bring 10X into service on schedule, it will establish itself as a cornerstone of next-generation business aviation propulsion. The move will also test whether aero-engine makers can balance volume ambitions with the precision and performance demanded by ultra-high-end aircraft.