Pratt & Whitney Finds Fix for F-35 Engine Issue

Problems with harmonic resonance had halted delivery of fighter jet engines for two months.

Jonathan Welsh

Wednesday, March 01, 2023 at 04:46 PM ET

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Lockheed Martin F-35B in hover configuration. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Pratt & Whitney has developed a solution for the harmonic resonance vibration issues affecting its F135 engines, which power the F-35 Lightning II fighter.
The engine problem was linked to a December 2022 F-35B accident, leading the Pentagon to suspend deliveries of both F-35s and their engines.
The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) has now authorized the resumption of F135 engine deliveries to the production line and is working to get the affected F-35 fleet flying again.

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Pratt & Whitney said it has developed a solution for its F135 engines that have experienced problems with harmonic resonance vibrations. The engines, which power the Lockheed Martin F-35 (NYSE: LMT) Lightning II fighter, have been under scrutiny following the December 15, 2022, accident involving an F-35B at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas.

“The potential for the harmonic resonance issue occurring was limited to a small number of aircraft. The actions the government and industry team are taking will ensure incorporation of mitigation measures that will fully address/resolve this rare phenomenon in impacted F135 engines,” said a spokesman for the Department of Defense’s F-35 Joint Program Office, or JPO.