[linear]

I believe it is fairly rare to have more than one engine for any given airframe - never heard of a fighter having multiple engine types, unless it was part of a modernization plan (ie the KC-135 R model - I realize that isn't a fighter aircraft, lol).

[Blogger]

The JSF is a unique animal. It will have 3 variants. Also, there was a "great engine war" in past decades where based upon poor performance of one particular source's engine the government decided to have an alternative. The scenario is, this fighter will be THE fighter for all three branches of our military. If there is an engine design flaw that shows up with no alternative engine to fill in the gap- our entire fleet could be grounded. Not good.

[tanknetter]

I believe it is fairly rare to have more than one engine for any given airframe - never heard of a fighter having multiple engine types, unless it was part of a modernization plan (ie the KC-135 R model - I realize that isn't a fighter aircraft, lol).

Actually the F-15 and the F-16 are two aircraft (both fighters) that have multiple engine types (Pratt and Whitney's F100 or General Electric's F110). IIRC both the P&W and GE engines are in service on USAF F-16s, while the US F-15 fleet is exclusively Pratt (with the Koreans using the GE powerplant on the ones they are now buying).

Also, the RN/RAF operated F-4 variants with Spey engines, with the RAF concurrently flying US-variant Phantoms with GE engines.