General Electric has completed the next phase of testing of the F-35 Lightning II adaptive engine, which will increase the range by 30%
General Electric and the U.S. Air Force have completed testing a second version of an adaptive engine for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter.
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The XA100 prototype at Arnold Air Force Base passed the second phase of testing in early spring 2022. The engine is now ready for the next phase. General Electric is ready to start the stage of engineering and production development.
The power unit, which is being developed as part of the AETP project, will increase the range of the F-35 Lightning II by 30%. It is claimed that the XA100 installation will increase the range from 2175 km to almost 2900 km and will allow the American fighters to compete with Chinese aircraft.
At the same time the adaptive engine is a very expensive development for the United States Air Force. According to the US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, the cost of the project can reach $6 billion. In this connection, the Pentagon may refuse to buy 70 F-35 Lightning aircraft, provided that the benefits of the new engine can make up for the lack of fighters.
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