Over the past week, the program for the future sixth-generation fighter of the U.S. has reached a major milestone in its development: the approval of the Detailed Design Review (DDR) for the two potential engines that will power it. Both General Electric Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney have announced that their respective XA102 and XA103 engine designs have successfully passed this stage, which serves as a precursor to the construction of a ground demonstration prototype expected by the end of the decade.
Notably, both propulsion system candidates for the NGAD program were presented entirely in digital format, marking the first time such models have been used at this stage for evaluating fighter jet engines in the U.S. This approach allowed engineers to access detailed, real-time data on each engine, accelerating the review process while reducing costs associated with producing physical prototypes for this phase.
Addressing these developments, Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney’s military engines business unit, stated: “Digital processes across the lifecycle are crucial for delivering advanced capabilities to warfighters quickly and efficiently. As we celebrate our centennial, the digital tools and processes our NGAP team has demonstrated and will continue to develop will be the foundation of our technology maturation for our future next-generation solutions.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Steve Russell, vice president and general manager of Edison Works at General Electric, expressed: “GE Aerospace is making significant strides with model-based engineering, which has been critical to the successful design of the XA102 engine. As we move toward the acquisition and construction phase, we will continue incorporating this innovative approach while working closely with our supply chain partners to advance the engine toward full-scale demonstration.”
This key milestone comes shortly after the U.S. Air Force significantly increased funding to advance the development of engines for its future sixth-generation fighter. The funding boost amounts to $7 billion, to be evenly split between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney. The official statement at the time indicated that this budget increase was aimed at designing and building the first prototype engines, integrating them into NGAD fighters, reducing risks, and advancing current technologies.
Regarding technical specifications, both GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney have maintained a high level of secrecy about their engine designs, only making general statements about their advantages. Both manufacturers emphasize that their engines will significantly outperform those of current fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, offering greater range, power, and improved fuel and high-temperature management.
However, it remains to be seen how these promised advancements will impact the final cost of the future sixth-generation aircraft, which has already faced scrutiny over its high estimated price. The issue was a major concern last year when then-U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced the creation of a new expert panel to evaluate the program and propose potential cost-reduction strategies. The Air Force’s goal—still uncertain—was to bring the cost closer to that of Lockheed Martin’s F-35.
Finally, closely related to the NGAD engine development, it is worth noting that almost simultaneously with GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney’s announcement of passing the DDR, the U.S. Air Force also disclosed major investments in sustaining the F119 engines of its F-22 fighters. This move signals an intent to maintain the platform despite budget cuts affecting the USAF and the significant investments required for the future sixth-generation fighter. With over $1.5 billion allocated to this effort, the initiative aims to build upon the advancements of Pratt & Whitney’s Usage-Based Lifing program, focusing on real-time data acquisition and the integration of new technologies.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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