A Rolls-Royce aircraft engine on view during the Hannover Messe industrial trade fair on March 31, 2025.

Ronny Hartmann | Afp | Getty Images

British aerospace and defense company Rolls-Royce announced it is investing $75 million to expand its engine manufacturing facility in Aiken, South Carolina.

The investment will boost output of mtu Series 4000 diesel engines, which are used in backup power systems for data centers and other critical infrastructures.

"The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers — especially in the fast-growing American data center industry," Adam Wood, managing director for Rolls-Royce's power systems division in America, said in a Tuesday press release.

The company said the expansion will create 60 new jobs, increase capabilities and strengthen Rolls-Royce's U.S. industrial presence.

The move also reflects Rolls-Royce's shift into energy and power systems, beyond its traditional aerospace focus.

Rolls-Royce said it will machine additional mtu Series 4000 components in the U.S. as part of the investment. The company currently produces many the components in Germany and sends them to the U.S. as finished goods. 

"We are proud to support America's growing demand for reliable, domestically made energy systems that strengthen our nation's energy independence and security," said Adam Riddle, CEO for North America.

This is the second major announcement in two days for the company.

On Monday, the United Kingdom and Czech Republic announced a partnership to collaborate on small modular reactors, according to Reuters.

Rolls-Royce SMRs could export up to six reactors to the Czech Republic under the deal.

The South Carolina site is now set to become a hub in Rolls-Royce's North American power systems strategy. The first phase of the expansion will begin in the first quarter of 2026, and production will begin in July 2027.