General Electric begins design work on a production version of the XA100 adaptive engine for the F-35 fighter

General Electric has begun design work on a production version of the XA100 adaptive engine. They are underway after the US Air Force extended a $203m contract with the manufacturer.

Here's What We Know

The US Air Force is investing millions of dollars to develop an adaptive cycle engine for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. The power plant is being developed under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP). It will replace the current F135 engine made by Pratt & Whitney.

The service renewed the contract with General Electric late last year. The US Air Force awarded the new funding after the company conducted a successful test of the adaptive cycle engine last August.

There is no word yet on whether funding for the AETP programme will be added to the fiscal 2024 defence budget. US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said last year that the project could cost more than $6bn.

In parallel with General Electric, Pratt & Whitney is also developing an engine with an adaptive cycle. It is called XA101. The work is being done under the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) programme. Pratt & Whitney proposes to use the propulsion system exclusively in the sixth generation fighters being developed under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) project, while the F135 can be upgraded for the F-35 Lightning II.

Adaptive-cycle engines will improve the aircraft's thrust and endurance. GE Edison Works spokesman David Tweedie says the XA100 will give the fighter a 30% increase in range. The company wants to integrate the new propulsion system into the F-35 Lightning II by 2028. The XA100 engine is aimed mainly at the F-35A and F-35C versions.

Source: Aviation Week