GE Aerospace clears detailed review for its NGAP design

A detailed design review of GE Aerospace's Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion option for the Air Force has been successfully completed, the company said today, allowing prototyping to begin.

“With the DDR now complete, GE Aerospace has been awarded the next contract phase to procure, assemble and test an XA102 full-scale demonstrator engine,” GE said in the announcement. “The design review was presented to the U.S. Air Force, showcasing the comprehensive digital engine model and validating its readiness for the next phase of development.”

Late last month, both GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney were awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity modification contracts of up to $3.5 billion each to carry their NGAP designs into prototyping. At the time of the award, no funds had been released.

“GE Aerospace is making great strides with model-based engineering, which has been instrumental in the success of the XA102 engine design,” Steve Russell, vice president and general manager of Edison Works at GE Aerospace, said in a statement. “As we transition into the procurement and build phase, we will continue to incorporate this innovative approach while working closely with our supply chain partners to advance the engine toward a full-scale demonstration.”

The Air Force has in recent months sought to grow industrial base capacity to produce these kinds of adaptive-cycle engines since only a small number of businesses are capable of building them.

According to GE, the NGAP-type engines are critical to powering future fighter jets because they can support “up to 30% greater range and significantly more thermal management capability compared to today’s most advanced combat engine.”