Wed, Jan 05, 2011
Powerplant Certified For Production, Cleared For Flight
The Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the F135
engine has achieved initial service release (ISR), meaning it is
now certified as the production configuration and cleared for
flight in the Lockheed Martin F-35B stealth fighter. Pratt
& Whitney said in a news release Monday it had received ISR for
the conventional take off and landing/carrier variant (CTOL/CV)
F135 engine in February 2010.
F135 STOVL Engine
"Achieving initial service release for the STOVL propulsion
system means all three variants of the F135 engine have met all
necessary requirements and proven the safety, reliability and
performance of this product. We are one step closer to powering
operational flights," said Bennett Croswell, vice president of
F135/F119 Engine Programs, Pratt & Whitney. "I am proud of the
F135 STOVL team and our partners at Rolls-Royce, Hamilton
Sundstrand and Lockheed Martin for this great program
accomplishment. We look forward to seeing the F135-powered
Lightning II in operational flight."
The F135 is in production and is the only engine powering the
F-35 Lightning II flight test program today. The F135 CTOL/CV
engine and STOVL propulsion system continues to power the F-35
Lightning II with 540 flight tests and more than 750 flight test
hours. The F135 has powered all 12 vertical landings and the F135
engine is demonstrating excellent reliability, performance and
thrust response. To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 12
production F135 engines, including the first two production STOVL
propulsion systems.
F135 STOVL Engine
Pratt & Whitney has designed, developed and tested the F135
to deliver the most advanced fifth generation fighter engine for
the United States and its allies around the world. The F135
has been further enhanced with technologies developed in several
U.S. Air Force and Navy technology programs.
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