GE Aerospace advances XA102 adaptive cycle engine assembly for U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion programme

GE Aerospace continues to advance toward assembly of the XA102 adaptive cycle engine under the U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) programme, marking continued gains in the development of next-generation propulsion technologies for future combat aircraft.

"Our team is working with suppliers to procure hardware and test subcomponents as we prepare for assembly of the first XA102 test asset," said Jorge Perez, general manager of Edison Works Advanced Combat Engines at GE Aerospace. "With our learnings from the XA100 program as a foundation, we are well positioned to advance adaptive cycle engine technology and support the Air Force's vision for next-generation propulsion."

From the start, the XA102 was designed utilizing the latest model-based engineering practices to reduce development time and cost. The latest model-based capabilities are being extended into manufacturing, inspection, and assembly to further reduce development time and enable the propulsion industrial base to innovate at the speed required to meet today's dynamic threat environment. A key enabler is GE Aerospace's use of model-based definition (MBD) to convey the complete product definition in a machine-readable format that can be transparently consumed in downstream manufacturing processes.

The XA102 programme is the first engine to be built using MBD, from design to assembly, in place of traditional two-dimensional drawings. This framework connects design, manufacturing, and inspection through integrated digital models, improving accuracy and accelerating production.

GE Aerospace is engaging closely with suppliers, helping ensure they have the capabilities to use the model-based design data in their manufacturing and inspection processes. MBD will help strengthen execution across the supply base and support a more seamless transition from engineering to manufacturing.

Building on experience from the XA100 programme, GE Aerospace is applying lessons learned in adaptive cycle propulsion, thermal management, fuel efficiency, and advanced design methods to mature the XA102 and prepare for future testing. The company successfully completed demonstrations associated with the model-based engineering practices in the first phase of the programme, underscoring its continued progress in digital engineering capabilities.