Partners say F135 is 'meeting or exceeding requirements'

GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES

Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Hamilton Sundstrand have completed the critical design review (CDR) for the F135 engine and, according to P&W, have shown it is "meeting or exceeding requirements as specified in its systems development and demonstration programme".

The F135 CDR completed a seven-month process and clears the way for the first production configuration engine for the conventional take-off and landing/carrier) variant to go to test around October.

The short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion system starts tests in Florida in the second quarter of next year, while flight tests in the Lockheed Martin F-35 are scheduled to begin in 2005. First production F135s are due to begin delivery in 2007.

For the F135, P&W provides the main engine and is responsible for the system integration; Rolls-Royce supplies the lift fan, three-bearing swivel nozzle and roll posts for the STOVL F-35B. Hamilton Sundstrand provides the control system, external accessories and gearbox.

Source: Flight International