F135 Team Delivers F135 STOVL Propulsion System to Lockheed

Pratt & Whitney, EAST HARTFORD: Pratt & Whitney has delivered the first F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) propulsion system including the Rolls-Royce Lift System to Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. The propulsion system will support airframe and engine interface evaluations for the first STOVL flight test aircraft, scheduled for its initial flight in May 2008. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. 
 
“The on-time delivery of the first STOVL propulsion system is a significant milestone for the F135 program and is attributed to the partnership between Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Hamilton Sundstrand, Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office,” said Bill Gostic, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135 engine program. “The team is completely focused on meeting our commitments to our customers, including first STOVL flight in 2008 and first production aircraft delivery in 2009.” 
 
“The STOVL propulsion system for the F-35B is a uniquely capable system,” said Kevin McCarty, program director STOVL, Rolls-Royce. “This is a key step on the road to flight qualification and we look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate the capability of the system.” 
 
Pratt & Whitney, the lead propulsion system provider, teamed with Rolls-Royce to develop the F135 STOVL to power the F-35 Lightning II. The Pratt & Whitney/Rolls-Royce F135 STOVL propulsion system has accumulated over 1,700 STOVL hours and over 4,300 total run hours. Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine has exceeded 8,500 system development and demonstration (SDD) ground test hours. 
 
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.