RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has completed its preliminary design review of the F135 engine core upgrade (ECU).
The completion of this stage affirms the ECU design is proceeding according to schedule and exceeding expectations, the company said.
The upgrade increases the engine’s durability and performance, which will “fully enable Block 4 and beyond capabilities for all three variants of the F-35 worldwide,” according to RTX.
During the review, Pratt & Whitney evaluated the ECU’s design changes and propulsion technologies along with the F-35 Joint Program Office.
The design changes and propulsion technologies are necessary to restore full life to the engine, providing heightened performance to integrate next-gen weapons and sensors.
“Pratt & Whitney is upgrading the F135 engine with technology from multiple development programs to deliver increased capability and performance for the warfighter,” Pratt & Whitney F135 program VP Chris Johnson said.
“Upgrading the F-35’s propulsion system to ECU is a critical step toward ensuring the F-35 remains the world’s premier air dominance fighter.”
Sole Modernization Contractor
In December 2022, the company received a $115 million contract from the US Department of Defense to support its F135 engine enhancement program.
Then earlier this year, the department formally selected the F135 ECU as the only modernization solution for the F-35’s propulsion system because it assessed that Pratt & Whitney had “the experience, special skills, proprietary technical documentation, software/algorithms, and technical expertise required to furnish the supplies and services.”
The engine developer has delivered more than 1,200 F135 production engines, with more than 860,000 engine flight hours recorded.
The F135 ECU will be integrated into F-35s at production points or retrofitted at F135 sustainment facilities around the world.