Says Flight Testing Program Also Coming Along

Pratt & Whitney told ANN Tuesday the F135 engine exceeded 9,000 system development and demonstration (SDD) ground test hours this week. This achievement, in addition to the 3,600 test hours accumulated during the F-35 concept demonstration program, puts engine test program hours at more than 12,600.

"This ground testing milestone, combined with the ongoing successful F-35 Lightning II flight test program, demonstrates the maturity, flexibility and reliability of Pratt & Whitney's F135 propulsion system," said Bill Gostic, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135 engine program.

Achieving 9,000 SDD ground test hours is one of a series of milestones for the F135 propulsion system development program. Pratt & Whitney's F135 conventional take-off and landing engine continues to power the F-35 Lightning II flight test program with 32 flight tests and more than 35 flight test hours to date.

Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built. The technologically advanced F135 is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. By the time the F-35 enters operation in 2013, the F119 engines will have logged more than 600,000 flying hours and the F135 will have logged more than 16,000 flying hours.

Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II, the F119 for the F-22 Raptor, the F100 family that powers the F-15 and F- 16, the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler, the TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, KC-135 aircraft, and the TF30 for the F-111. In addition, Pratt & Whitney offers a global network of MRO and MAS focused on maintaining engine readiness for our customers.

FMI: www.pw.utc.com