Design and Development
Instead of employing lift engines or rotating nozzles on the engine fan like the Harrier, the "LiftSystem" employs a shaft-driven LiftFan, designed by Lockheed Martin and developed by Rolls-Royce, and a thrust vectoring nozzle for the main engine exhaust that provides lift and can also withstand reheat in conventional flight to achieve supersonic speeds. The system has more similarities to the Russian Yakovlev Yak-141 and German EWR VJ 101D/E than the preceding generation of STOVL designs to which the Harrier belongs.
The entire team responsible for developing the propulsion system includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, under the leadership of the United States Department of Defense Joint Strike Fighter Program Office. Paul Bevilaqua, Chief Engineer of Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Projects (Skunk Works) is credited as being responsible for the initial development of lift fan for the LiftSystem on the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The concept of a shaft-driven lift-fan does date back to the mid-1950s. The lift fan was demonstrated by the Allison Engine Company in 1995-97.
While the F-35B's primary powerplant is the Pratt & Whitney F135, specifically derived from the F119-PW-100, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) awarded General Electric and Rolls-Royce a $2.1 billion contract to jointly develop the F136 engine as an alternative, and the LiftSystem has been designed for interchangeability between the two engines. However, it is expected that a further $1.3 billion would be needed to complete the development of the F136 and there is some doubt about its future: the DOD proposals for terminating the F136 in its FY2007 and FY2008 budgets were rejected by Congress on both occasions, but DOD has again requested termination in its FY2009 budget proposal.
Rolls-Royce is managing the overall development and integration programme from its site in Bristol, UK, which is also responsible for the LiftFan turbomachinery, 3BSM and Roll Post designs. The team in Indianapolis, US, will provide the system’s gearbox, clutch, driveshaft and nozzle and will conduct the build and verification testing of the LiftFan.
Read more about this topic: Rolls-Royce Lift System
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