A version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's Pratt and Whitney's engine might be capable of powering the U.S. Air Force's prospective new bomber, Boeing's military engines chief said on Feb. 10.
If the long-range strike aircraft is not "as ambitious" as previously envisioned, as suggested by Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, then a version of the fighter engine could be adapted for the bomber, said Warren Boley of Boeing. Given Schwartz's statement, made Feb. 9 during the National Defense Industrial Association's Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Symposium, the new aircraft could be subsonic and use proven, off-the-shelf technology, Boley said.
"So the future bomber may be much more off the shelf, much more proven technology, it may be a subsonic bomber, it may use a proven [F-35 Pratt and Whitney] F-135," he said.
Previously, a senior industry official familiar with long-range strike aircraft programs had said both the F-22 Raptor's F-119 engine and the F-135 consume fuel far too quickly to be used on such a long-endurance strike platform. Instead, the official had suggested using high-efficiency advanced turbofans or perhaps Pratt and Whitney's geared turbo-fan engines.
However, Boley said the 8-foot diameter of a geared turbo-fan engine was likely too large for a new bomber. He added that the F-135 would "most definitely" be suitable for a long endurance aircraft.
The company is developing the PW9000 engine, which uses the F-135 low pressure compressor mated to the core from a geared turbo-fan engine. The engine may be used on the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Launch Surveillance and Strike aircraft, he said.
If the Air Force's new bomber was more ambitious, the developmental Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology (ADVENT) engines being developed under a U.S. government contract by General Electric and Rolls Royce might be applicable, Boley said. While Pratt and Whitney is not receiving government funding, he added, it is developing similar technology internally.
The ADVENT technology would be especially useful if the bomber is supersonic, Boley said. However, the technology is also useful for managing the aircraft's signature and generating large amounts of electrical power for sensors and other ancillary systems, he said.
If the long-range strike aircraft is not "as ambitious" as previously envisioned, as suggested by Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, then a version of the fighter engine could be adapted for the bomber, said Warren Boley of Boeing. Given Schwartz's statement, made Feb. 9 during the National Defense Industrial Association's Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Symposium, the new aircraft could be subsonic and use proven, off-the-shelf technology, Boley said.
"So the future bomber may be much more off the shelf, much more proven technology, it may be a subsonic bomber, it may use a proven [F-35 Pratt and Whitney] F-135," he said.
Previously, a senior industry official familiar with long-range strike aircraft programs had said both the F-22 Raptor's F-119 engine and the F-135 consume fuel far too quickly to be used on such a long-endurance strike platform. Instead, the official had suggested using high-efficiency advanced turbofans or perhaps Pratt and Whitney's geared turbo-fan engines.
However, Boley said the 8-foot diameter of a geared turbo-fan engine was likely too large for a new bomber. He added that the F-135 would "most definitely" be suitable for a long endurance aircraft.
The company is developing the PW9000 engine, which uses the F-135 low pressure compressor mated to the core from a geared turbo-fan engine. The engine may be used on the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Launch Surveillance and Strike aircraft, he said.
If the Air Force's new bomber was more ambitious, the developmental Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology (ADVENT) engines being developed under a U.S. government contract by General Electric and Rolls Royce might be applicable, Boley said. While Pratt and Whitney is not receiving government funding, he added, it is developing similar technology internally.
The ADVENT technology would be especially useful if the bomber is supersonic, Boley said. However, the technology is also useful for managing the aircraft's signature and generating large amounts of electrical power for sensors and other ancillary systems, he said.
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