Harmonic resonance took out the F135 engine years before the F-35B fighter jet crashed in Texas

In mid-December 2022, an F-35B Lightning II crashed on the runway in Texas. The cause was vibration in the F135 engine. As it became known, this was not the first such incident.

Here's What We Know

In March 2020, the engine of the F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet failed during testing due to vibration problems. Pratt & Whitney, the propulsion system supplier, said it immediately informed the F-35 programme office.

The next day, F-35 project experts, along with Pratt & Whitney engineers and military officials, began a "full systems engineering study" to find the cause of the malfunction. Four months later, the experts concluded that the engines needed to undergo additional pre-acceptance procedures.

The problem had flared up several times, but only an incident in mid-December 2022 was made public. An F-35B fighter jet at the Lockheed Martin plant in Texas fell during a vertical landing. The pilot ejected. The company stopped flying, the military grounded its aircraft and Pratt & Whitney stopped supplying F135 engines.

The cause of the malfunction was harmonic resonance, which disrupted the fuel supply. Pratt & Whitney has fixed the problem and the Pentagon has allowed deliveries. At the same time, the ministry requires all aircraft (over 900 units) to be updated. This will take 90 days. In addition, it should not be forgotten that the F135 is to undergo a major upgrade at a cost of several billion dollars. It will leave an adaptive engine for the sixth generation fighters.

Source: Defence News