US may invest another $588.4m to develop adaptive engine for sixth-generation fighter

The House Armed Services Committee's tactical air and land forces panel is demanding more than half a billion dollars more to develop the AETP programme, which will result in an adaptive engine.

Here's What We Know

The new propulsion system was intended for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. However, in early 2023, the US Department of Defense finally decided to upgrade the F135 engine. In doing so, the adaptive engine will be installed in the sixth generation fighter, which will appear in about 12 years.

The adaptive cycle powerplant is being developed as part of the Adaptive Engine Transition Program. The decision not to use this engine in the F-35 fighter is because it will not work on the short takeoff and vertical landing version of the F-35B.

House member Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, has said he wants to keep the project alive. Earlier, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has said that adaptive engine will cost more than $6 billion, which would force the service to cut purchases of F-35 fighters.

Two companies are developing prototypes as part of the AETP programme. General Electric has built the XA100 prototype. Pratt & Whitney's engine is called the XA101. At the same time, the latter stated that its propulsion system is more oriented to the sixth generation fighter and not the F-35.

Source: Defence News