F-35s Need More Powerful Engines—But How Much More?
The Pentagon says it doesn’t know, and lawmakers have questions.
AUDREY DECKER | MARCH 30, 2023
AIR FORCE PENTAGON CONGRESS NAVY
As the Pentagon funds an engine upgrade for its entire F-35 fleet, the Joint Program Office says it knows the current engine doesn’t have enough power—but doesn’t know how much more power it will actually need.
The F-35’s current Pratt & Whitney engine is running twice as hot as it was designed—driving the aircraft to require maintenance earlier, which runs up program costs.
“We have been eating into the life of this engine since the beginning of the program because we did under-spec the engine and its requirements,” F-35 Program Executive Officer Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt said in a House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee hearing Wednesday.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2023/03/f-35s-need-more-powerful-engines-how-much-more/384630/
