F135 vs F136, Here We Go Again

Aviation Week and Space Technology ^ | 2/10/2011 | Graham Warwick

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Shoot me, before the pain returns, because the Great Engine War of Words (GEWW) is revving up again. Next week the Pentagon will release its FY2012 budget request, which likely won't contain money for the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 alternate engine, and Congress will take up the stalled FY2011 budget, which may or may not end up with money in it for the F136.

In a bid to get out ahead, Pratt & Whitney held a media roundtable in Washington today (Feb 10). The first item of news was that Pratt has a "handshake" with the JSF program office on the low-rate initial production lot 4 fixed-price contract for F135 engines, at a unit cost 16% below the LRIP 3 cost-plus contract.

But the main reason for meeting the press seems to have been to get out ahead of the news that, as part of the F-35 development replan within the Pentagon's 2012 budget, Pratt will receive contracts totalling about a billion dollars for more engines, flight-test support and component improvements.

[Still Thinking]

I have a hilarious PowerPoint file detailing the differences between PW and GE engines, but I can’t seem to find a copy online anywhere to post a link so everyone can see.