STOVL Variant Nears Initial Service Release Certification

The F135 engine for the F-35 Lightning Joint Strike fighter has surpassed 19,000 hours and the Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant is in the final stages of testing prior to receiving Initial Service Release Certification from the U.S. Government later this year, Pratt & Whitney said Monday.

F135 STOVL Variant File Photo

"The F135 journey continues," said Bennett Croswell, Vice President of F119/F135 engine programs. "I've been involved with this program since concept demonstration, and when I look back on the last 10 years, the accomplishments we've seen, the history we've made powering the first ever supersonic, stealthy military jet capable of vertical lift operations, I could not be prouder to be a part of this propulsion team."

Pratt & Whitney has delivered all 29 test engines as well as 9 production F135 engines to the customer. The engine has successfully powered more than 350 F-35 flights including several vertical lift operations accumulating nearly 500 flight test hours. Also this year the F135 powered the F-35 STOVL variant through supersonic flight and the first production F135 engine has been installed in a production F-35. Throughout the year, through the achievement of all these major program milestones, the F135 engine is demonstrating excellent reliability, performance and thrust response. The F135 has achieved 20% thrust over specifications on both test and production engines.

File Photo

"With the Conventional Take Off and Landing variant F135 receiving ISR certification earlier this year, and the STOVL F135 variant scheduled to receive ISR certification later this year, 2010 will mark the accomplishment of the last of the major F135 engine development program milestones," Croswell said.

FMI: www.jsf.mil