PROVEN TECHNOLOGY - F135 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Lead Propulsion System for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

With more than 19,500 test hours completed, Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system is the lead engine for the F-35 Lightning II and the most powerful fighter engine ever developed. The F135 is now transitioning from development to production. The F-35 is a fifth generation, advanced, single-engine tactical fighter developed by Lockheed Martin in conjunction with BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman. 

 

Proven Technology Derived from the World’s Only Operational 5th Generation Fighter Engine

The F135 is the derivative of the proven F119-PW-100 engine, the technologically advanced turbofan engine exclusively powering the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor. The F119, which surpassed 110,000 flight hours, offers proven dependability and safety, which has been applied to the design and development of the F135.  It features advanced prognostics and health management systems, and the engine is designed to significantly lower maintenance costs.  Pratt & Whitney leads the aerospace industry in single engine safety and maturity.  Sharing a common core proven and dependable F119 engine, the F135 engine is the safest and most reliable product for our customers.

 

Proven Performance on the F-35 JSF

The F135 effortlessly powered the F-35 Lightning II’s successful first flight on December 15, 2006, and continues to power the ongoing flight test program. F135 has proved time and time again that it is the right choice for the Joint Strike Fighter.  Milestones of accomplishment in 2008 include: 79 flight test hours, 2,179 ground test hours, 60 flights, 10 engines delivered, STOVL First Flight, successful aerial engine restart testing and achieving supersonic flight.  The milestones that have now been completed represent the methodical transition from system development and demonstration to full production.  This includes delivering the final F135 test engine to the U.S. Air Force; delivering the first four production F135 engines; achieving the first STOVL vertical landing; and attaining the government’s endorsement of the CTOL/CV engine through Initial Service Release (ISR).  ISR means that the F135 CTOL/CV engine has met all the government’s requirements and has demonstrated proven safety, reliability and performance for operational use in the field.  It is essentially the government’s seal of approval, clearing the use of engine by the warfighter for its intended purpose.  By the time the F135 enters operation in 2013, the operating fleet of F119 engines will have logged more than 600,000 flying hours and the F135 will have logged more than 16,000 flying hours.