The US Congress wanted to allocate additional funds for the modernization of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multifunctional fighter-bombers. Additional money was proposed to be allocated for the creation of an improved power plant of the aircraft, according to the portal Janes.
The Chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives, Adam Smith, announced on August 31 a proposal to increase funding for work on a new engine. We are talking about the program for creating a new generation of aircraft engine Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP). The AETP developments will help in the modernization of the F135 engines of the F-35 aircraft, the portal emphasizes. Initially, the US Air Force requested almost $ 14 million for work on the AETP in the 2022 fiscal year.
If the initiative is approved, additional funds will be allocated in the 2022 fiscal year. Smith also wished to see the strategy of the US Department of Defense for the implementation of AETP developments on the F-35 from fiscal year 2027.
The engines developed under the AETP program are designed for a promising sixth-generation fighter. General Electric and Pratt & Whitney (as part of United Technologies) are working on the new units. The $ 2 billion program was initiated in 2016.
Pratt & Whitney is developing a new three-circuit XA101 engine with an adaptive cycle. The developments on the new unit can form the basis for engine upgrades of modern fifth-generation fighters F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. It is believed that a promising power unit will receive increased thrust with less fuel consumption-compared to current engines.
Daniil Irinin
