Afterburning

The GE Rolls-Royce F136 Fighter Engine Team announced this morning that it hit full afterburner on its third “production-configuration” F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine.

“All major objectives have been reached during this phase of testing, which included an engine nozzle common to both F-35 engine programs,” an engine team statement reads.

“Six F136 engines are scheduled for testing this year, to measure engine performance and endurance as the competitive engine for the F-35 program continues to demonstrate steady progress and significant milestones,” the statement continues. “F136 performance is meeting all expectations in terms of thrust, temperature margins, and fuel consumption -- confirming the vital role that it will play competing in the Joint Strike Fighter program over several decades.”

The latest test results come as the Pentagon and Congress remain at odds over whether the F136 program should continue. Defense Department officials claim that the primary F135 Pratt & Whitney-built engine will suffice over the life of the JSF program, and that an alternate is a waste of money. Congress sees a second engine vital should a problem arise with the F135 down the road.

The F-35 alternate engine program is sure to be a hot topic when Pentagon acquisition executive Ashton Carter and Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Christine Fox appear before a joint hearing of the House Armed Services air and land forces and seapower and expeditionary forces subcommittees on Wednesday.