Pratt & Whitney's F119 Demonstrates Full Life Capability

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney's F119 engine powering the F-22 Raptor has successfully completed 8,650 total accumulated cycles, or TACs, representing the first time a fifth generation fighter engine has demonstrated the ability to meet full life requirements.  Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

Production engine P730210 has completed Accelerated Mission Testing (AMT) simulating 15 years of operational service, compressed into four years of test and evaluation.   The engine ran for nearly 1,700 hours, accumulating 8,650 cycles. The F119 has accumulated more than 300,000 hours and is the only fifth generation engine in operational use today.

"This milestone marks a significant accomplishment for the only operational fifth generation fighter engine in service today and demonstrates the maturity of this highly advanced propulsion system," said Bennett Croswell, Vice President of F135/F119 Engine Programs. "This is a clear and unequivocal demonstration of the outstanding durability and reliability of the F119 engine system and all of its components."

Following completion of the testing, the F119 engine was disassembled and inspected revealing all the parts in excellent condition.  

"This engine has the most impressive durability results of any engine I have reviewed in my career and is a very good indicator for the future performance of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine powering the F-35," said Tom Johnson, Chief Engineer of the F135 Program and a 31 year veteran of several Pratt & Whitney engine programs. "The F119 engine shares its mature, proven core with the F135 engine, and this common technology derived from the proven F119 offers a significant advantage to the F135 with respect to maturity and single engine safety."

A significant portion of the hardware from P730210, will be re-installed for continued testing beyond the original design specification requirements and will provide the foundation for additional cost savings and increased capability for the USAF under an F119 life extension program.

"Pratt & Whitney is proud of the exceptional record of the F119 engine, and the experiences and capabilities demonstrated by the F119 deliver built-in maturity for the F135 engine," Croswell said.

Pratt & Whitney continues to deliver both F119s and F135s from the fifth generation production line, with approximately 350 F119 engines and 9 F135 engines delivered to date.

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 commercial building industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the operational prospects for certain engines and, accordingly, the potential for future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in the USAF's funding related to the F-22 aircraft and F119 engines, changes in government procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney