Tech & Auto
This Cutting-Edge Engine Could Power America’s Next-Gen Fighter Jets
By MATTHEW LEE
Advanced propulsion is a key part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program's goal. An engine must provide a significant leap in capability compared to its predecessors.
The engine needs to be more durable and reliable than any engine currently in the U.S. inventory, and offer higher, more efficient thrust, increased cooling, and power generation.
Boeing, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Pratt & Whitney earnt a $975 million contract to create a design that can meet all the requirements by the 2030s.
GE Aerospace has unveiled its XA100 engine, while Pratt has its XA103 prototype. Both are designed to reconfigure themselves in mid-flight to better suit the flight profile.
When the jet is cruising at subsonic speed, the engine can be optimized for maximum fuel efficiency and range vs in-combat adapted for max thrust and performance.