MEDIA CENTER - F135 BACKGROUND

 

Pratt & Whitney F135 -- The World's Most Powerful Fighter Engine

Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system is the engine for the new advanced, single-engine tactical fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, developed by Lockheed Martin.  The F-35 has unique capabilities for conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), carrier-variant (CV), and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL).  The same F135 engine will power all three variants. The F135 propulsion system has already proven that it can meet these diverse requirements as it was chosen by both Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company as the exclusive power for all Concept Demonstration Aircraft (CDA) Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) flights.  The engines accumulated more than 3,600 ground test and nearly 200 flight test hours during the CDA phase of the JSF development program.

 

System Development and Demonstration

On October 26, 2001, Pratt & Whitney was awarded a ten year, $4.8 billion (U.S.) contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD).  Under the SDD contract, Pratt & Whitney is developing the F135 propulsion system through flight clearance, flight test, and qualification for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP).  The first LRIP deliveries are scheduled for 2009.

To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 11 ground test engines – five of the five planned CTOL/CV configurations and six of the seven planned STOVL configurations. Combined, F135 engines have accumulated more than 12,000 hours of SDD testing, which includes more than 2,100 hours of powered lift testing. 

 

Building on a Legacy of Experience

The technologically advanced F135 is an evolution of the highly successful Pratt & Whitney F119, exclusive power for the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor.  In March 2009, the F119 achieved a major milestone, surpassing 110,000 operational flight hours. The F135 improves upon the validated F119 core, integrating the F119's high-performance six-stage compressor and single-stage turbine unit with a new low-pressure spool.  By the time the F-35 enters operation in 2013, the F119 engines will have logged nearly 500,000 flying hours and the F135 will have logged more than 16,000 test hours.

The F135 propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and overall system integration; Rolls-Royce, providing the lift fan, three-bearing swivel module and roll posts to the STOVL version of the F135; and Hamilton Sundstrand, provider of the F135's control system and gearbox.

 

Advanced Support and Maintainability

The F135 features advanced prognostic and on-condition management systems that provide maintenance awareness, autonomic logistic support, and automated field data and test systems.  Propulsion system support and maintainability are further enhanced by the F135's maintenance-focused design.  The F135 has approximately 40 percent fewer parts than legacy propulsion systems, which also contributes to its improved reliability.  All line-replaceable components (LRCs) can be removed and replaced with a set of six common hand tools.  And, the F135 has a 50 percent lower support infrastructure compared to current engines.

 

Powering the F-35 Lightning II Flight Test Program

In March 2005, the Pratt & Whitney F135 SDD program successfully passed a post test Critical Design Review lead by the U.S. Government.  The review found that the F135 propulsion system met all review objectives and was on track for on schedule delivery of the first flight test engine.

In December 2005, Pratt & Whitney completed assembling the first F135 flight test engine at the company's Engine Center in Middletown, Conn., and delivered the engine to Lockheed Martin. The F135 program achieved Initial Flight Release in October 2006.  The F135 effortlessly powered the F-35 Lightning II’s successful CTOL first flight on December 15, 2006, and the F-35B STOVL first flight on June 11, 2008.

As of March 2, 2009, the CTOL engine has completed over 71 flights in the F-35 aircraft with no engine issues.  Flight testing has included air refueling and air-starts.  The engines have demonstrated excellent reliability, performance and thrust response during these tests. 

Additionally, in January 2009, the STOVL engine achieved a historic aviation milestone when it completed all of its engineering and development work to achieve a statement of qualification for powered lift operations. This clears the way for the STOVL aircraft to begin flight testing in March 2009.

 

Unprecedented Cooperation

The F-35 Lightning II program represents the first time the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines have successfully fielded a tri-service strike fighter.  The program also includes participation from eight F-35 partner nations: United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.  There are currently more than 40 companies from all eight partner nations fully engaged in Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine program.

As planned, the F-35 Lightning II will replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, AV-8B Harrier and the F/A-18 Hornet.  More than 2,500 aircraft could be produced over the life of the program.  Program of record shows 3,173 aircraft.

 

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