Air Power 2017

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

WEBSITEpw.utc.com

Jim Maser
Vice President, F135 Engine Programme, Pratt & Whitney

WITH MORE THAN 200 F-35S
OPERATING AROUND THE
WORLD, HOW IS THE F135
ENGINE PERFORMING?
The F135, which powers all three variants
of the F-35, is the most advanced fighter
engine in the world, delivering more
than 40,000lbs of thrust and unparalleled
capability to the warfighter. The engine is
performing exceptionally well with mission
availability averaging more than 98%, and
current production engines are already
exceeding key 2020 reliability requirements.
It has had near flawless performances
during recent ship trials and Red Flag
training exercises, as well as during the
deployments of operational squadrons
from the United States (US) Air Force and
US Marine Corps to Europe and the Pacific.

AS THE PRODUCTION OF THE

F135 ENGINE CONTINUES

TO RAMP UP, HOW IS PRATT

& WHITNEY PREPARING TO

SUSTAIN THIS GROWING FLEET?

We expect to deliver around 80 F135

engines this year, with more than 350 F135s

delivered to date. We have cut production

costs in half, and we remain focused on

executing our customer commitments and

maintaining world-class quality throughout

the production phase. The number of

fielded F-35s continues to grow rapidly,

but we know what it takes to handle the

sustainment of a global fleet. We already do

that with F100s that power an international

fleet of F-15s and F-16s. By 2020, Pratt &

Whitney will sustain an operational fleet

of F-35s projected to number over 650

aircraft in 10 countries. Our sustainment

focus is on establishing F135 MRO centres

and a global repair network to handle the

increasing number of F-35 operating bases.

CAN YOU PROVIDE AN UPDATE

ON THE UNITED KINGDOM’S

F-35B FLEET AND ANY KEY

MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON?

The F-35B is powered by our F135

propulsion system and incorporates Rolls-

Royce short takeoff and vertical landing lift

fan components, allowing the aircraft to

operate from land bases as well as Queen

Elizabeth-class carriers. Similar to the Harrier

before it, the F-35B provides a unique short

takeoff and landing capability to the Royal

Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN), but

the F135 engine is a game changer. For

one, the F135 has rock-solid flight controls,

which makes the aircraft much easier to fly

than the Harrier. It also leverages unique

fifth-generation thermal management

and stealth capabilities, which makes the

aircraft more survivable against increasingly

sophisticated threats. Right now, we are

working closely with the RAF and RN as

they progress towards initial operational

capability next year, and on to the 138 F-35s

currently planned for the UK programme.

AS THE F-35 PROGRAMME

DEVELOPS AIRFRAME AND

CAPABILITY IMPROVEMENTS,

HOW IS PRATT & WHITNEY

GOING TO EVOLVE THE

F135 ENGINE?

We recently validated an upgrade

configuration for the F135 that can provide

a five to 6% fuel burn improvement and a

six to 10% thrust increase across the F-35

flight envelope. It also enables up to a 5%

increase in powered lift thrust for the F-35B

variant with modifications to the lift fan.

We’re calling this our Growth Option 1.0

package. We believe this option provides

an affordable, low-risk path forward that

can bring increased capability into the

hands of all F-35 warfighters by the early

2020s. The variant-common upgrade

limits changes to just the power module,

allowing Growth Option 1.0 to be

seamlessly integrated into the global fleet

of F-35s – either retrofitted during routine

overhauls or cut into production with no

impact on the engine delivery schedule.

The upgrade is also fully compatible with

existing F135 sustainment infrastructure.

The current production F135 engine

is meeting all of today’s performance

requirements, but we see a path forward

that would make the world’s most

advanced fighter engine even better.

EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD’S

LEADING FIGHTER ENGINE

“The F-35B provides a unique short

takeoff and landing capability”