However, electrical demands and thermal loads imposed by additional systems necessitated changes to the F-35’s engine to improve heat management. The decision today shows the Air Force concluded it could not. “We needed something that was affordable, and that would support all the variants.”Suggestively, Pratt & Whitney had developed its own XA101 adaptive cycle engine, but argued it wasn’t worth fitting on the F-35, and claims it couldn’t be done for the F-35B. GE also saw a “path” to adapting the adaptive cycle technology to the F-35B, which has a different F135-600 engine with lift fans for vertical-takeoff capability. Moreover, lack of institutional interest—and thus funding—of AETP from the Marine Corps or Navy (which operate F-35Bs and Cs) meant the Air Force didn’t want to take on GE’s estimated $6 billion development cost alone.

Source: Forbes March 14, 2023 00:59 UTC