PW-229 EEP Increases Inspection Intervals, Reducing Life Cycle
Costs
Pratt & Whitney, maker of the F100 engine family that powers
the F-16 and F-15 military fighter jets operated by the US Air
Force, US Navy and the Air Forces of 22 allied nations, have begun
production of the first F100-PW-229 Engine Enhancement Package
(EEP) engines. The F100-PW-229 EEP represents the latest evolution
in the F100 series of engines.
"The F100-PW-229 EEP is another example of Pratt & Whitney's
pioneering work in fighter engine technology," said Warren Boley,
Vice President of Pratt & Whitney Military Programs and
Customer Support. "Not only does it offer superior performance
capabilities for our armed forces, it reduces maintenance and life
cycle costs at a time when value and efficiency are top priorities
on the nation's agenda."
The F100-PW-229 EEP incorporates technology developed for
the F135 and F119 propulsion systems. The F100-229 EEP will provide
advanced, dependable power for F-16 and F-15 aircraft around the
world. In response to strong customer demand, the first engines
will begin delivery of the new configuration in October of this
year.
The F100-PW-229 EEP was created to dramatically decrease the
cost of ownership without impacting performance. This was
accomplished by increasing the engine depot inspection interval
from 4,300 to 6,000 cycles and increasing durability of key
components while maintaining the 29,100 pound thrust rating. The
inspection interval increase extends the amount of time between
scheduled depot maintenance from the average of 7-9 years to over
10-14 years depending on utilization rates. This increase
consequently should reduce life cycle costs by 30 percent over the
life of the engine. The F100-PW-229 EEP continues to be the only
fighter engine funded and qualified by the US Air Force to the
6,000 cycle capability.
Pratt & Whitney will offer customers the option to purchase
the F100-PW-229 EEP as a complete engine, or as an upgrade kit that
will be made available to all -229 operators near the end of
2010.
"The US Air Force and several other operators of the P&W
F100-PW-229 engine have expressed interest in having upgrade kits
to modify their existing engines, so we're working diligently to
provide this capability for our customers," Boley said.
So far, 74 F100-PW-229 EEP engines have been ordered, with the
first delivery set for Republic of Korea. Additional deliveries
will be headed to Morocco and Pakistan in early 2010.