GE/Rolls-Royce end funding of alternate F-35 engine
Above: The first international F-35 Lightning II rolls out of the factory on 29th November, 2011. The UK's MOD will use the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet, known as BK-1, for training and operational tests. Copyright Lockheed Martin
The decision - reached jointly by General Electric (GE) and Rolls-Royce leadership - recognises the continued uncertainty in the development and production schedules for the JSF Programme.
Dan McCormick, President of the FET, said: "GE and Rolls-Royce are proud of our technology advancements and accomplishments on the F136. However, difficult circumstances are converging that impact the potential benefit of a self-funded development effort."
With the F136 engine development almost 80% complete, the US Department of Defense (DoD) terminated the programme in April of this year. Following termination, the GE Rolls-Royce FET had offered to self-fund F136 development through fiscal year 2012 but will now end its development work. The FET will continue to fulfill its termination responsibilities with the federal government.
For 15 years, the FET has developed a competitive fighter engine for JSF with the world's most advanced propulsion technologies, including numerous patented technologies from both companies.
Before the programme was terminated, six F136 development engines had accumulated more than 1,200 hours of testing since early 2009. The FET consistently delivered on cost and on schedule and was rewarded with high marks by the DoD in a successful joint venture between GE and Rolls-Royce.
Throughout the F136 programme, GE and Rolls-Royce have been leading advocates of defense acquisition reform - offering unique and aggressive fixed-price proposals for F136 production engines for the JSF programme.
McCormick said: "GE and Rolls-Royce are deeply grateful to our many Congressional supporters on both sides of the aisle over these many years as well as the military experts who have supported competing engines for JSF. We do not waver in our belief that competition is central to meaningful defense acquisition reform."
The STOVL versions of both the F135 and F136 power plants use theRoll-Royce LiftSystem, patented by Lockheed Martin and developed and built by Rolls-Royce.
