The U.S. Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program Office has awarded a multi-year contract, valued at approximately $96 million, to the team of GE Aircraft Engines, Allison Advanced Development Company, and Rolls-Royce Military Aero Engines Ltd. (MAEL) for the JSF Alternate Engine Program.
The multi-phase Alternate Engine Program(beginning with a four-year core engine development and technology maturation effort(will enable the JSF program to reap the cost benefits of engine competition, systems readiness, and increased operational flexibility.
A follow-on turbofan development program, beginning in the year 2001, is expected to lead directly to a full-scale engineering and manufacturing development (E&MD) contract in the year 2004.
Earlier this year, the JSF Program Office selected the GE YF120 advanced fighter engine as the baseline engine from which to develop derivatives for the Alternate Engine Program, based on its core thrust capability to meet the multi-service (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.K. Royal Navy) aircraft requirements and its potential for growth.
Designated the YF120-FX for the JSF, the engine is based on the YF120 which GE developed and successfully demonstrated in flight in the early 1990s for the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter engine competition. The derivative YF120-FX engine will capitalize on Allison hot section technology, Rolls-Royce advanced fan technology, and GE model-based diagnostics and low observable inlet/exhaust system components.
The YF120-FX features will provide for a reduced cost of ownership while achieving the aggressive reliability and maintainability goals required for an affordable JSF weapon system.
Since 1993, GE and Allison have successfully teamed to demonstrate and mature advanced propulsion technologies for the U.S. government-led Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) and JSF programs. In March of 1996, Rolls-Royce MAEL joined the GE/Allison team to develop and produce the YF120 cruise engine for the JSF program. Under the GE/Allison/Rolls-Royce team agreement, GE will initially act as the lead systems integrator for the engine development work.
The Alternate Engine Program was conceived by the JSF Program Office in 1995 to address the risk involved in having one propulsion system powering the JSF aircraft.
"This engine program will unleash the benefits of increased competition, leading to a product that is responsive to JSF requirements at a lower acquisition cost," said Phil Combs, JSF team program manager for the GE/Allison/RR team. "The JSF program will realize the advantage of increased operational flexibility and improved weapon system readiness."
The JSF Program Office has estimated that more than 3,000 JSF aircraft could be produced by the year 2030.