Air Force Awards $4.9 Billion for Next-Gen Adaptive Jet Engine

Contracts go to General Electric Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 02:25 PM ET

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The Pentagon is considering a new adaptive engine replacement for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to increase range, thrust, and power management. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force / Capt. Kip Sumner]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force has awarded $4.9 billion in contracts to five major defense companies, including General Electric Aviation and Pratt & Whitney Engines, for the development of an adaptive engine prototype.
These contracts aim to create next-generation propulsion systems for future air dominance platforms, specifically considering potential upgrades for the F-35 Lightning II and new 6th-generation fighters under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
The work, to be completed by July 2032, includes design, analysis, testing, and weapon system integration, with the involvement of aircraft manufacturers underscoring the critical need for seamless engine-platform integration.

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The U.S. Air Force has awarded $4.9 billion in contracts to five companies for the development of an adaptive engine prototype to power its next-generation fighter jet.

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts announced August 19 by the U.S. Department of Defense were awarded to General Electric Aviation (NYSE: GE), Pratt & Whitney Engines (NYSE: RTX), Boeing (NYSE: BA), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC).