AFRL Awards Pratt & Whitney Contract to Develop Advanced Aircraft Engine

Jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney announced that it has been awarded an Air Force Research Laboratory contract to conduct a ground test demonstration for a novel architecture using a rotating engine detonation concept. The program will be executed jointly with Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Raytheon Technologies Research Center, Pratt & Whitney said Thursday.

In a statement, Pratt and Whitney said the envisioned aircraft engine is being designed to fly at higher Mach speeds. The resulting engine design will be a key element of the company’s high-speed engine portfolio to meet future customer requirements.

Michael Gregg, director of the aerospace directorate at AFRL, said Pratt & Whitney has made considerable progress developing new engine concepts and his office looks forward to successfully demonstrating them. 

For his part, Dave Stagney, director of Pratt & Whitney’s GATORWORKS, said his team was able to complete initial concept development well ahead of schedule and will continue leveraging digital and agile capabilities to accelerate progress. He stressed the urgent need for new military-relevant propulsion technologies.

Currently, Pratt & Whitney’s military engines are used in fighter aircraft, including the F135 engine for the 5th generation F-35 Lightning II, the F119 for the F-22 Raptor and the F100 family that powers the F-15 and F-16. On the subsonic front, the company also produces the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler, the TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, and KC-135 aircraft, as well as the PW4062 for the KC-46A Pegasus.