Pratt & Whitney's F135 STOVL engine cleared for powered lift operations

Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine program achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first engine to receive a Statement of Qualification for F-35 Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) full powered lift operations. The F135 engine is the only fifth generation engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program.  Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

"This is a significant milestone for the Pratt & Whitney F135 team and the F-35 team," said Bill Gostic, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135 Engine Program. "Unlike the V-22 Osprey and the AV-8B Harrier propulsion systems that have vertical lift capabilities, the F135 combines vertical powered lift, more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, supersonic capabilities and stealth technology."

The statement issued by the F-35 Joint Program Office states, "…the STOVL Propulsion System satisfactorily completed the Final Flight Release Verification Activities,…and may therefore be used for all ground testing including full STOVL mode at the Pit and all Up and Away and Powered Lift flight operations."

"The F135 is the most powerful, versatile, technically advanced fighter engine ever built. We are now qualified and ready to continue supporting the Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin's F-35 STOVL flight test program."

"For eight years and more than 11,000 test hours, Pratt & Whitney has been designing, developing and testing the F135 to deliver on our commitment to provide the United States Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as eight international partner countries, with the most advanced fighter engine ever, using mature technology derived from the F119 powering the F-22 Raptor," Gostic said. "The F135 is in production and we will continue to deliver on this commitment."

The F135 propulsion system is the power of choice for the F-35 and has proven it can meet diverse aircraft requirements. The ground and flight test experience demonstrates the maturity and the associated reliability of the F135 engine for armed forces around the world.