With great ceremony,
Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and US government representatives
completed the assembly of the first production configuration F135
engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The event marks a major milestone in the F135 program,
completing the first engine less than two years after the initial
contract award. Pratt & Whitney will now begin testing the
engine at its West Palm Beach, FL facilities under the Joint Strike
Fighter System Development and Demonstration contract. First flight
on the F-35 will be in 2005 with entry into service in 2008.
"This is an important day for the F135 engine team and Pratt
& Whitney as a whole," said Bill Gostic, Director of F135
Engine Programs, P&W.
"It was a formidable challenge to complete this engine on budget
and ahead of schedule, but the vast experience we gained in the JSF
Concept Demonstration was a big help. The key to success was the
outstanding dedication of everyone at Pratt & Whitney, the JSF
program office and the more than 300 partners and suppliers around
the world."
"This is a significant benchmark for the F135 SDD Program and
for the very dedicated F135 Team," said Rob Burnes, JSF F135
Program Manager at the Joint Program Office. "This will set up an
on-time First Engine To Test which is a key start to our five-year
testing program."
The F135 Propulsion
System Team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor
with overall responsibility for the main engine and system
integration; Rolls-Royce, providing the Rolls-Royce LiftFan(TM), 3
Bearing Swivel Module and Roll Posts to the STOVL (Short
Take-Off/Vertical Landing) F- 35B; and Hamilton Sundstrand,
provider of the F135's control system, external accessories and
gearbox. The F135 is an evolution of the F119 engine powering the
F/A-22 Raptor. The F135 will power all three variants of the F-35 -
CTOL (Conventional Take Off/Landing), CV (Carrier Version) and
STOVL, with production aircraft deliveries beginning in 2008. Among
the aircraft the F-35 will replace are the AV-8B Harrier, A-10,
F-16, F/A-18 and the United Kingdom's Harrier GR.7 and Sea
Harrier.
Pratt & Whitney military engines are built and supported in
facilities located in Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia,
Maine, Oklahoma, and Texas. Models include the F119 powering the
F/A-22 Raptor; the F135 for the Joint Strike Fighter; the F117 for
the C-17 Globemaster III; the F100 for the F-15 and F-16 fighters;
the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; the TF-33 powering AWACS, Joint
STARS, B-52, C-141 and KC-135 aircraft; the PT6 for the T-6A, C-
12, T-34C and UH-1N aircraft; and the JT15 for the T-1A, US-35A,
and the Pegasus UCAV.
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