Pratt & Whitney is accelerating development of its XA103 engine for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) programme by using advanced digital design packages, according to the company.
The RTX subsidiary said the approach improves collaboration with suppliers and internal teams by enabling rapid design iterations, faster validation, and better forecasting for manufacturing.
The goal is to reduce costs and shorten timelines for the XA103, which will power future air dominance aircraft.
Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney’s Military Engines business, said: “We are paving the way with digital on NGAP, so much so that the rate at which we are delivering XA103 technical data packages has doubled. Model-based design ties all the puzzle pieces together, fostering constant collaboration, and we are applying these learnings across our engine portfolio.”
Pratt & Whitney said it has invested more than $30 million this year in its model-based environment, alongside work funded through government contracts. More than 1,000 engineers and staff, along with over 100 domestic suppliers, are engaged in the effort.
The company added that the NGAP team is working toward an Assembly Readiness Review, which will set the schedule for prototype build and testing. The XA103 is expected to enter testing in the late 2020s.
So is this happening then, will we see this actually taking to the air ?
The first one is being built now apparently. First flight scheduled for 2028.
OK, thanks, I saw some comments here a while back suggesting it had stalled. Interesting times ahead what with Tempest and Trumpest.
Hi Halfwit,
The USAF 6th gen program is definitely going to happen, but the US Navy’s 6th gen fighter program is in question.
Thanks Paul, I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with, It’ll be interesting to see Tempest and Trumpest and also what the Chinese will come up with next.
Geez, I hope Trumpest doesn’t catch on… I’m hoping for a name like “Stratofigher” to go along with other Boeing planes like the B-52 and KC-135.
Firebird is the current favoured prediction, mostly from the Test and Evaluation Groups patch, which has a phoenix on it.
Trumpest would be the best way to get the Egofest to fund the program.
The Tangerine is modest and self effacing…
“Firebird” sounds like a mix of Honda Bikes, I’ve had both the “Fireblade” and the “Blackbird”, both fantastic machines in their day.
Honda’s Blackbird was for a few years, the fastest production bike in the World, untill Suzuki gave us the “Hayabusa” which held that title for many years and led to the so called “Gentlemans agreement” to restrict all new bikes to 186mph. These can all be de-restricted though so we can still get the full fat power.
The Hayabusa can reach the magic 200mph figure when free of restrictions but Kawasaki at the third attempt gave us the Gen 3 ZZR1400 which remains my fastest bike owned and a recorded 204mph top speed averaged over two timed runs.
Just thought I’d add this info for anyone remotely interested in Bikes and Speed.
Hayabusa would most likely be the name given to a Japanese version of NCAP I would hope !
All very interesting Mr halfwit – im more of a VFR Man myself.
Thank Feck for that, I thought I was the only Biker here !
Only had one VFR, that was the NC30, It was fantastic but I broke it !
Looked at a VFR750 back in 2005 but went for a Blackbird instead, then I was hoping the VFR1200 would have been a Blackbird replacement but sadly It wasn’t. Test rode two but just didn’t get on too well with it/them.
I’m on bike number 46 now, one for each year !
What’s your Biking History ?
Had many Bikes over the years – currently ride a Yam XSR700 in lieu of getting my RC36 back on the road.Did a Honda Track Day experience just after GW1 at Cadwell Park using the NC30,great fun was had though probably didn’t appreciate its quality at the time.Nearly bought one but the deal sort of fell through.
Thanks for replying Paul, I love talking Bikes (and cars) currently I have a (new to me this week) Hayabusa, Aprilia Tuono V2, a Rather special (money pit) Grom, possibly the fastest in the UK, an FJ1200 an X7, X1 and I just sold my ZZR1400 and MT09 to make some space !
The Busa has been a real special treat as I had two before but not for 11 years and I forgot how great they are.
RC36 is a great bike I remember Ron Haslem on the first Viffer in that race !
Too late – it’s now Trumpest in my mind henceforth.
Good init !
I like ‘Trumpest’, going to use that whenever I need to be rude about NGAD in future!
Feel free and you can always say some Halfwit came up with the name !
If you are talking about NGAD it stalled in the sense that the e pe ted design parameters underwent a re-assessment due to questions about survivability due to the extreme long range anti aircraft weapons China is introducing that may not only threaten the fighter itself but the tankers required to refuel something even having double the range of an F-35. No doubt Musk’s anti manned fighter influenced the review too. Anyway after some delay the project t got the go- ahead not sure if any changes were initiated to counter the concerns. There was some argument that an aircraft such as a modified B-21 could fulfil the role better but at this stage at least rejected. The big question is whether navy’s new fighter will happen, it was not given budget by the Govt but the House overalled that decision and ensured investment for the next year was maintained. Still big questions over it mind and it may well end up being a version of the NGAD, so still up in the air…or not if you like.
I guess only time will tell.
China Is certainly upsetting the apple cart now.
There is one major problem in using a B21 in a fighter style air to air engagement. Yes its very stealthy and with its large weapons bay, could hold a significant number of beyond visual range air to air missiles (BVRAAMs). But the design is purely subsonic. Meaning when fired the missile such as an AMRAAM, has to expend a lot of energy going from subsonic to supersonic. Whereas, something like an F22, will accelerate to supersonic then release the weapon. As that adds the aircraft’s kinetic energy to the weapon, but also means the missile doesn’t waste energy accelerating from subsonic to supersonic. Therefore, the AMRAAM will have a range and time to target advantage when fired from the F22 compared to a B21.
However, if the B21 is armed with the AIM-174 (2nd stage SM6) Gunslinger missile. Which is expected to have a range over 150 miles (240km), does this really matter? Technically if the B21’s weapon bay can accommodate the GBU-43 MOAB, which is 9.2m long. Then it should be able to accommodate the 1st stage of the RIM-174 (SM-6) as well, which has a total length of 6.6m. This would certainly be capable of a range greater than 200 miles (320km) when air launched. So using the B21 with AIM-174/RIM-174 may not be a bad idea after all!
I think the question around the US 6 generation propulsion offer is not will it see service but will it see service in one or two six generation fighters.
Or will it prove to be too complex and too much of a tech reach that gets canned in the interests of a flying plane….
Hi SB, NGAD will have to use either the XA102 or XA103 engines, as both are designed to be adaptive cycle engine. That build on the multi-stream F-135 used by the F35. Which is where the engine exhibits both the advantages of a turbofan and turbojet. This is especially important if they want NGAD to have the range, as only a turbofan will meet that requirement for fuel efficiency. Whereas for max height and perhaps dogfighting they will want maximum thrust. The XA102 and XA103 also keep a third bypass air stream external to the core of the engine, so it can be used for equipment cooling, as well as mixing with the hot exhaust to reduce the IR signature.
The engine that GCAP will use, will also need to be adaptive, to meet the platform’s requirements.
Hello mate, I’m not that up on US stuff but surely they have something in the pipe to replace Super Hornetts, something bigger and longer range ?
I reference this above, it’s not confirmed as yet what will happen. The Navy’s proposal which they want separate to NGAD has finance presently but only because the House overruled Trump. What if anything comes out of it is not clear longer term, be it a separate aircraft, a version of NGAD (ie F-47) or labouring on with present aircraft while introducing strike drones in some form. It’s a matter of cost, thus budgetary limitations, consideration of Chinese missiles threat to the fighter, tankers and even the Carriers, the type of offensive weapons required as a counter and thus longer term survivability of even a very long range aircraft and carrier group by the time any design becomes operable. I suspect a vesrsion of NGAD is the most likely result as a relative compromise on requirement v budget.
Yep as spy said at present the USN are still battling to keep their own distinct 6 gen fighter program F/A-XX it will use the same engine and a lot of systems as the USAF NGAD but the plan was for it to be a smaller distinct aircraft… but the chances of even the US being able to fund 2 manned six generation programmes is doubtful.
Maybe they should fix all the P&W powered Airbus and Embraer grounded aircraft first..
Please do correct me if I am wrong however, I’m sure I read recently that the UK/Italy/Bae Tempest aircraft, will not be available until 2035. So my question is, will the US ‘trump’ (scuse the pun) whatever aircraft the UK/Italy/Bae come out with by getting there first, and getting countries to ‘sign up’ to their aircraft before UK/Italy/Bae makes it Airfix model stage?
I doubt the US would sell this.
But didn’t Trump offer/going to offer to Japan but the export version would be a downgraded version?
So we read. Even downgraded, I don’t see it.
It’ll be a repeat of the F22, not-available for foreigner sales.
Tom, It is my hope that the US will not sell this aircraft abroad and Tempest will be the Worlds most sought after aircraft. We’ve done this before with so many fantastic aircraft and now with such great partners, we stand at the gateway to another Global success. Let’s just hope our “Leaders” can grasp this.
As much as I appreciate, and agree with what you are saying, 2035 is an awful long way away. To make matters worse, it’s got ‘wow that’s hellishly expensive’ written all over it, which will lead to political creatures from all sides to push development further down the road.
The US probably won’t sell the F-47, but if they did they’ve hurt their chances of foreign sales both with the lacklustre support for the F-35 (where’s the Meteor?) and more recently Trump’s “unique” foreign policy strategy. FCAS also isn’t looking too healthy right now, the most likely export competition would be China (at least to nominally “unaligned” countries).
They are apparently much further along withthe adaptive cycle engine technology that rolls royce, who seem to basically do very little proper R&D these days. The tempest engine by all current accounts is a glorified eurofighter unit with significantly upgrated electrical generation.
I’d encourage you to explore more of the information around the Tempest engine that’s been made available. Not adaptive cycle, but still very advanced.