Rolls-Royce’s newest member of the Pearl family, the 18,000-pound-thrust Pearl 10X, is checking off key trials and has surpassed 1,000 test hours as it prepares for service entry on what is to become Dassault’s top-of-the-line Falcon in late 2025. Dassault selected the Pearl engine to power its 7,500-nm Falcon 10X.
The Pearl 10X test engine ran for the first time earlier this year, and Rolls-Royce said it surpassed target thrust levels on that initial trial, “making it the most powerful business aviation engine” in its Pearl portfolio. Rolls-Royce further said all tests conducted so far have demonstrated the reliability targets and that it will meet performance requirements.
Testing has been conducted on the Pearl’s new ultra-low emissions additive-layer-manufactured combustor, which is compatible with 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel, and the new accessory gearbox designed for higher additional power extraction. The first complete 10X powerplant—including a nacelle from Spirit AeroSystems, engine buildup, and mount system—will roll out later this year.
The Pearl 10X features the Advance2 engine core combined with a high-performance low-pressure system; high-pressure compressor with six-blisked stages; ultra-low emissions combustor; two-stage shroudless high-pressure turbine; and enhanced four-stage low-pressure turbine that Rolls-Royce said is among the most efficient and compact in the industry.
The Falcon 10X marks the third application for the Rolls-Royce Pearl family after the Gulfstream G700 and Bombardier Global 5500/6500.