Views: 13
BULGARIA MILITARY
On July 16, the advanced Pratt & Whitney F135 engine successfully passed its preliminary design review, keeping it on track to be integrated into future F-35 fifth-generation fighters before 2030.
This engine is part of the Engine Core Upgrade program, offering an alternative to the Adaptive Engine Transition Program, which aims to introduce a completely new powerplant with groundbreaking features.
The Engine Core Upgrade program, while less ambitious, will still deliver significant improvements, though it will lack elements like the “third stream” for enhanced efficiency and cooling, as well as the adaptive cycle meant to boost thrust and endurance.
The Engine Core Upgrade offers several advantages. Among these is a much lower development cost compared to creating an entirely new engine, along with the added benefit of maintenance compatibility with the existing several hundred baseline F135s already in service.
While the Adaptive Engine Transition Program was initially expected to support only the Air Force and Navy’s F-35A and F-35C models, the enhanced F135 from the Engine Core Upgrade will also be compatible with the Marine Corps’ F-35B.
The push for a new engine for the F-35 is urgent for several reasons. Chief among them are the aircraft’s current limitations in range and flight performance, particularly for operations over the Pacific.
The Chinese J-20 is the closest competitor and stands out with more than double the range of its rivals and superior flight performance. Its capabilities are expected to improve further with the integration of the WS-15 engine, providing a higher thrust-to-weight ratio.
A more urgent issue is that the F135 engine is currently operating at over double its intended cooling capacity, managing 30 kilowatts when it was designed for just 15. This cooling system is already under significant strain, and the upcoming Block 4 upgrade for the F-35 fleet will push the requirements up to 47 kilowatts or more, making the current arrangement unsustainable.
If this cooling issue isn’t resolved, it could result in an additional $38 billion in costs over the F-35’s lifetime. This includes increased maintenance needs and accelerated engine wear, which could have serious implications for the Pentagon.