EVENDALE, Ohio - The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program Office is on contract with the team consisting of GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE), Allison Advanced Development Company, and Rolls-Royce Military Aero Engines to provide an alternate engine for the JSF Program. Under the terms of this contract, the JSF Program Office will attain significant life cycle cost benefits provided by meaningful competition, will improve overall weapon system readiness, and will provide inherent risk reduction for the JSF Program.
The JSF Program Office selected GE's YF120 advanced fighter engine, designated the YF120-FX for the JSF, for the Alternate Engine Program. The YF120-FX, a derivative of the engine developed and successfully flight tested for the United States Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter engine competition, was selected for the JSF Program based on its core thrust capability to meet the multi-service aircraft requirements, including STOVL, without scaling and for its growth potential.
To develop this engine, GEAE, Allison, and Rolls-Royce formed a world-class team that combines GEAE's expertise in single-engine fighter safety and performance and low observable inlet/exhaust system components with Allison's high performance components and cooling technologies, and Rolls-Royce's extensive experience in V/STOL and fan development, and manufacturing technologies.
The JSF Program Office recently awarded a multi-year contract for $106 million to the Alternate Engine team. This initial phase of the Alternate Engine Program consists of a four-year core engine and engine diagnostics development and technology maturation effort. Integrated engine diagnostics development will provide a foundation for achieving the aggressive reliability and maintainability goals critical for an affordable JSF weapon system.
A follow-on turbofan development program, beginning in the year 2001, is expected to lead directly to a full-scale engineering and manufacturing development contract in 2004.
The objectives of the JSF Technology Maturation Program to verify advanced, affordable technologies applicable to the JSF were recently successfully demonstrated on the GE LO Axi (Low Observable Axisymmetric) Exhaust System. The LO Axi Nozzle successfully completed ground testing on an F110-GE-100 installed on an F-16C, operating at power settings from idle to maximum afterburner. The resulting infrared (IR) and radio-frequency (RF) test data confirmed the achievement of installed signature goals during operation. Nozzle system demonstration continues with a 500-hour durability test on an F110-GE-129 currently in process.
The advanced technology of the LO Axi Nozzle enables it to achieve signature levels previously possible only with 2-D nozzles, although the LO Axi Nozzle is an inherently lower-weight, lower-cost, and structurally simpler system. Additionally, substantial improvements in durability andm the incorporation of maintenance-friendly features will reduce maintenance requirements by as much as 80 percent, compared to current exhaust system components.