US-based Pratt & Whitney — a division of United Technologies Corp — has announced an upgrade for the F135 engine, which powers the fifth-generation F-35 Lighting II aircraft; this will provide increased power and thermal management system (PTMS) capacity.
The Growth Option 2.0 upgrade can be configured (according to customer requirements) to offer a range of PTMS improvements.
Matthew Bromberg, president of Pratt & Whitney military engines (
www.pw.utc.com), said: “As the F-35 programme moves forward with the Continuous Capability Development and Delivery strategy, we strive to stay in front of the propulsion advances needed to enable F-35 modernisation.
“We’re continuously assessing customer needs and responding with technology insertion options to keep them ahead of evolving threats.”
Growth Option 2.0 incorporates the same suite of compressor and turbine technologies offered in the previously announced Growth Option 1.0; it also brings scaled advances in PTMS capacity while maintaining the same fuel burn (5-6%) and thrust improvements (6-10%) across the F-35 flight envelope.
By selecting from Pratt & Whitney’s full suite of technologies, customers can choose from a range of PTMS options, as required.
Increases in PTMS capacity can enable the F-35 to use an enhanced spectrum of offensive and defensive weapon systems. Growth Option 2.0 can provide a significant improvement in PTMS capacity in the short term by using several low-risk technologies that are available now.
Pratt & Whitney is also developing additional technologies that are projected to provide even greater PTMS capability further down the line.
The upgrade represents the latest version of Pratt & Whitney’s Future Adaptive Spiral Technology approach, which enables the timely insertion of next-generation propulsion technologies into current and future platforms.