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U.S. defense budget to cancel F-136 engine for the F-35 JSF
February 6, 2006 (by
Jeff Hollenbeck) -
In the federal budget proposal recently sent to the U.S. Congress, President George W. Bush has apparently decided to cancel a multi-billion dollar contract with General Electric and Rolls-Royce to develop and manufacture a second engine for the Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The original plan for the Joint Strike Fighter included two different engine manufacturers as a means to lower costs through competition as well as protecting the aircraft from a possible fleet-wide grounding due to engine trouble with either manufacturer.
Great Britain has raised serious objections to the decision as it would mean a substantial loss of revenue to Rolls-Royce. The British government has also publicly stated that it will support efforts by both General Electric and Rolls-Royce to overturn the cancellation through the U.S. Congress.
Cancellation of the second engine project would leave Pratt and Whitney as the sole supplier of engines for the Joint Strike Fighter. The first Pratt and Whitney F-135 flight test engine was recently delivered to Lockheed's Ft. Worth, Texas assembly plant where it was successfully installed into the first F-35 airframe.
Prototype of the General Electric and Rolls-Royce F-136 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (USAF photo)
Great Britain has raised serious objections to the decision as it would mean a substantial loss of revenue to Rolls-Royce. The British government has also publicly stated that it will support efforts by both General Electric and Rolls-Royce to overturn the cancellation through the U.S. Congress.
Cancellation of the second engine project would leave Pratt and Whitney as the sole supplier of engines for the Joint Strike Fighter. The first Pratt and Whitney F-135 flight test engine was recently delivered to Lockheed's Ft. Worth, Texas assembly plant where it was successfully installed into the first F-35 airframe.
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