Development
The origins of the F135 lie with the Lockheed Corporation Skunk Works's efforts to develop a stealthy STOVL strike fighter for the U.S. Marine Corps under a 1986 DARPA program. Lockheed employee Paul Bevilaqua developed and patented a concept aircraft and propulsion system, and then turned to Pratt & Whitney (P&W) to build a demonstrator engine. The demonstrator used the first stage fan from a F119 engine for the lift fan, the engine fan and core from the F100-220 for the core, and the larger low pressure turbine from the F100-229 for the low pressure turbine of the demonstrator engine. The larger turbine was used to provide the additional power required to operate the lift fan. Finally, a variable thrust deflecting nozzle was added to complete the "F100-229-Plus" demonstrator engine. This engine proved the lift-fan concept and led to the development of the current F135 engine.
P&W developed the F135 from their F119 turbofan, which powers the F-22 Raptor, as the "F119-JSF". The F135 integrates the F119 core with new components optimized for the JSF. The F135 is assembled at a plant in Middletown, Connecticut. Some parts of the engine are made in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, and in Poland.
The first production propulsion system for operational service is scheduled for delivery in 2007. The F-35 will serve the U.S., UK, and other international customers. The initial F-35s will be powered by the F135, but GE/Rolls-Royce team is developing the F136 turbofan as an alternate engine for the F-35 as of July 2009. The Initial Pentagon planning required that after 2010, for the Lot 6 aircraft, the engine contracts will be competitively tendered. However since 2006 the Defense Department has requested no funding for the alternate F136 engine program, but Congress has maintained program funding.
The F135 team is made up of Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Hamilton Sundstrand. Pratt & Whitney is the prime contractor and handles main engine, and systems integration. Rolls-Royce is responsible for the vertical lift system for the STOVL aircraft system. Hamilton Sundstrand is responsible for the electronic engine control system, actuation system, PMAG, gearbox, health monitoring systems, and fuel system,
As of 2009, P&W is developing a more durable version of the F135 engine to increase the service life of key parts. These parts are primarily in the hot sections of the engine (the combustor and high pressure turbine blades specifically) where current versions of the engine are running hotter than expected, reducing life expectancy. The test engine is designated XTE68/LF1, and testing is expected to begin in 2010. This redesign has caused “substantial cost growth.”
Pratt expects to soon be delivering F135s below the cost of the F119, even though it is a more powerful engine.
Read more about this topic: Pratt & Whitney F135
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