Aircraft

Ottawa-based Gastops is to supply fan eddy current sensors for the Pratt & Whitney F135, the first engine selected to power Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Valued at $48 million over the life of the F135's production phase, the deal seals the company's role as a permanent member of the JSF's supply chain, company officials said during a signing ceremony at the CANSEC defence and security exhibition in Ottawa on 27 May.

Gastops' selection comes as both the F135 and the rival General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 teams step up their efforts in Canada to pursue future business. The F136 is the alternate engine programme funded under the JSF programme.

Canada is participating in the F-35 programme, and is considering the fighter to replace its Boeing CF-188 (F/A-18A/B) fleet after 2017. Each JSF buyer will have the option of choosing between the F135 and F136 propulsion systems.

The newly selected fan eddy current system monitors the structural health of the first-stage fan blades on the F135.

Gastops has previously supplied oil debris detection sensors for P&W F119 engines that power the Lockheed F-22 fighter, and for the PW1000G engine selected for the Bombardier CSeries small airliner.