Pratt & Whitney XA103

Last updated
XA103
Type Adaptive cycle engine
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Pratt & Whitney
Major applications Next Generation Air Dominance (planned)

The Pratt & Whitney XA103 is an American adaptive cycle engine demonstrator being developed by Pratt & Whitney. It is competing with the General Electric XA102 as the powerplant for the United States Air Force's sixth generation fighter program, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). [1]

Contents

The three-stream adaptive cycle design can direct air to the bypass third stream for increased fuel efficiency and cooling or to the core and fan streams for additional thrust and performance. The engine thrust has not been disclosed, although it is speculated by aviation reporters to be in the 35,000–40,000 lbf (156–178 kN) thrust class. [2]

Development

The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy began pursuing adaptive cycle engine in 2007 with the Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology (ADVENT) program, a part of the larger Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) program. [3] This technology research program was then followed by the Adaptive Engine Technology Demonstrator (AETD) program in 2012, which continued to mature the technology, with tests performed using demonstrator engines. The follow-on Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) was launched in 2016 to develop and test adaptive engines for sixth generation fighter propulsion as well as potential re-engining of the F-35 from the existing F135 turbofan engine. The demonstrators were assigned the designation XA100 for General Electric's design and XA101 for Pratt & Whitney's. [4] While the XA100 and XA101 became focused on the potential re-engine of the F-35, a separate engine program was initiated for the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, which is expected to be optimized differently with a greater emphasis on supersonic cruise (or supercruise) performance; this program became the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) and the entrants were the General Electric XA102 and Pratt & Whitney XA103.

Critical design review of the XA103 was completed in February 2024, and flight testing is expected to begin in the late 2020s. [5] [6]

Design

The XA103 is a three-stream adaptive cycle engine that can adjust the bypass ratio and fan pressure to increase fuel efficiency or thrust, depending on the scenario. It does this by employing an adaptive fan that can direct air into a third bypass stream in order to increase fuel economy and act as a heat sink for cooling. The increased cooling and power generation also enables the potential employment of directed energy weapons in the future. [7] [8] When additional thrust is needed, the air from the third stream can be directed to the core and fan streams. In addition to three-stream adaptive cycle configuration, the engine also uses new heat-resistant materials such as ceramic matrix composites (CMC) to enable higher turbine temperatures and improved performance.

Applications

Specifications (XA103-PW-100)

Data from Royal Aeronautics Society [2]

General characteristics

Components

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft engine</span> Engine designed for use in powered aircraft

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afterburner</span> Turbojet engine component

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Electric TF39</span> Turbofan aircraft engine

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pratt & Whitney XA101</span> American adaptive cycle engine

The Pratt & Whitney XA101 is an American adaptive cycle engine demonstrator being developed by Pratt & Whitney for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and form the technological foundation for the company's XA103 propulsion system for the United States Air Force's sixth generation fighter program, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).

The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) is a United States Air Force (USAF) sixth-generation air superiority initiative with a goal of fielding a "family of systems" that is to succeed the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. A crewed fighter aircraft is the centerpiece program of NGAD and has been referred to as the Penetrating Counter-Air (PCA) platform and is to be supported by uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), or loyal wingman platforms, through manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).

The General Electric XA102 is an American adaptive cycle engine demonstrator being developed by General Electric (GE). It is competing with the Pratt & Whitney XA103 as the powerplant for the United States Air Force's sixth generation fighter program, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).

References

    1. ↑ Norris, Guy (12 February 2024). "P&W XA103 NGAD Engine Moves To Detailed Design". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
    2. 1 2 Sweetman, Bill (13 December 2023). "NGAD - a generational divide?". Royal Aeronautical Society.
    3. ↑ Thomson, Daniel E. (14 April 2010). Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines Provide Game Changing Capability with Superior Fuel Efficiency (PDF). 11th Annual Science & Engineering Technology Conference/DoD Tech Expo. Charleston, South Carolina.
    4. ↑ Mehta, Aaron (1 July 2016). "US Air Force Funds Next Advanced Engine Stage". DefenseNews. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
    5. ↑ "RTX's Pratt & Whitney business completes key design review on Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion offering" (Press release). RTX. 12 February 2024.
    6. ↑ Tirpak, John (5 April 2024). "Air Force Wants $1.3 Billion to Finish Design for New Fighter Engine". Air and Space Forces Magazine.
    7. ↑ Mathews, Jim (26 June 2017). "Engines of Innovation". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
    8. ↑ Norris, Guy; Anselmo, Joe (21 July 2018). "F-35 Engine Upgrade Would Enable Directed Energy Weapons". Aviation Week. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
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