Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology: Difference between revisions

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{{Use American English|date = August 2019}}

The '''Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology''' (or '''ADVENT''') program iswas an [[aircraft engine]] development program run by the [[United States Air Force]] with the goal of developing an efficient adaptive cycle, or [[variable cycle engine]] for next generation military aircraft; initial demonstrators were expected to be in the 20,000 lbf (89 kN) thrust class. The

In 2012 the program was succeeded by the '''Adaptive Engine Technology Demonstrator''' ('''AETD''') program; work continued in 20122016 andunder the '''Adaptive Engine Transition Program''' ('''AETP''') in 2016, with the latterwhich focused on developing and testing a 45,000 lbf (200 kN) thrust class adaptive cycle engine for next generation fighter aircraft and potential F-35 re-engining. A subsequent '''Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion''' ('''NGAP''') program was also launched for a related 35,000–40,000 lbf (156–178 kN) thrust class engine to power the [[Next Generation Air Dominance]] crewed fighter aircraft.

==Objective==

The objective of ADVENT is to develop an engine that is optimized for several design points, rather than the traditional single point. Instead of having an engine that is designed solely for high speed (like many current fighter engines are) or for high [[fuel efficiency]] (like many current commercial engines are), the final ADVENT engine would be designed to operate at both those conditions.<ref name="wppress">Barr, Larine. [httphttps://www.wpafb.af.mil/newsNews/story.asp?/id=/123048376/ "Air Force plans to develop revolutionary engine"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605114250/http://www.wpafb.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123048376 |date=June 5, 2011 }}. US Air Force press release, 11 April 2007, Accessed: 20 October 2009.</ref> Specific goals include reducing average fuel consumption by 25% and reducing the temperature of cooling air produced by the engine.<ref name="rrpress">[http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/109107/rolls_royce-selected-for-advent-demonstrator.html "Rolls-Royce Selected for ADVENT Demonstrator"], Press Release, 18 Oct 2009, Accessed 20 Oct 2009.</ref>

==Applications==

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In October 2009, Rolls-Royce was awarded the Phase II contract to continue component testing and integrate the developed technologies into a technology demonstrator engine.<ref name="rrpress"/> GE Aviation was also awarded funds to continue development of their technology demonstration core, which was unexpected as the ADVENT program had originally called for a single contractor to be selected for Phase II.<ref>Trimble, Steve. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/15/333519/corrected-usaf-selects-general-electric-and-rolls-royce-to-continue-advent-work.html "USAF Selects General Electric and Rolls-Royce to Continue ADVENT work"]. ''Flight International'', 15 October 2009. Accessed: 20 Oct 2009.</ref>

USAF officials have denied that the program is an attempt to create a backup engine program for the F-35.<ref>Wright, Austin. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76408.html "Lawmakers suspect jet engine end run."] ''Politico'', 16 May 2012.</ref>

With the threat of the GE/RR F136, Pratt & Whitney has funded an adaptive fan variant of its F135, that may qualify for the follow-on ''Adaptive Engine Technology Development'' (AETD) program under the US [[Air Force Research Laboratory]].<ref>Majumdar, Dave. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/farnborough-pratt-to-test-new-adaptive-fan-f135-variant-next-year-374283/ "FARNBOROUGH: Pratt to test new adaptive fan F135 variant next year."] ''Flight International'', 12 July 2012.</ref>

In 2012, GE was chosen to continue its ADVENT work into the AETD program.<ref>Brooks, Robert. [http://americanmachinist.com/news/usaf-taps-ge-develop-new-jet-engines "USAF Taps GE to Develop New Jet Engines."] ''American Machinist'', 21 October 2012.</ref> GE and Pratt & Whitney were selected over Rolls-Royce to continue the AETD program to mature fuel-efficient, high-thrust powerplants.<ref>Warwick, Graham. [http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_09_18_2012_p01-02-496815.xml "Pratt In, Rolls Out, GE Stays On AFRL Advanced Engine Demo."] ''Aviation Week'', 18 September 2012.</ref> Operational testing of the engine was expected to begin in 2013.<ref name="rrpress"/> Under AETD, GE had set new records with the highest demonstrated compressor and turbine temperatures.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Colin |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2015/06/ge-sets-aetd-record/ |title=GE Jet Sets Record; Will F-35 Get New AETD Engine? |work=Breaking Defense |date=18 June 2015 |access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> In 2017, Pratt wrapped up tests of their three stream engine with a F135 core.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/air-force-association/2017/09/18/pratt-whitney-completes-tests-for-new-adaptive-engine-that-could-power-future-fighter/ |title=Eyeing the future fighter, Pratt & Whitney hits milestone with new adaptive engine |last1=Insinna |first1= Valerie |date=18 September 2017 |website=www.defensenews.com |publisher=Sightline Media Group |accessdate=10 August 2018}}</ref>

In 2014, [[Chuck Hagel]] requested a $1 billion investment in the engine technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140224/NEWS05/302240043 |title=Pentagon, Air Force doubles down on engine technology |last1=Mehta |first1=Aaron |date=24 February 2014 |website= militarytimes.com |publisher=Gannett Government Media |accessdate=24 February 2014}}</ref> A [[Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering|government official]] has warned that [[Budget sequestration in 2013|sequestration]] risks ending the program.<ref name=aw2015-04>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Warwick |url=http://aviationweek.com/technology/budget-cuts-future-weapons-could-have-long-term-impact |title=Budget Cuts To Future Weapons Could Have Long-Term Impact |work=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |date=3 April 2015 |accessdate=8 April 2015 }}</ref>

In 2016, the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) was launched with the goal of developing and testing adaptive engines for the future sixth generation fighter programs, Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) for USAF and [[F/A-XX|Next Generation Air Dominance]] (NGAD) for US Navy, as well as potential re-engining of the F-35. The program assigned the new designations [[XA100]] for General Electric's design and [[XA101]] for Pratt & Whitney's.<ref name="fg20180709">{{cite web |last=Trimble |first=Steven |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/usaf-starts-work-on-defining-adaptive-engine-for-future-fighter/128748.article |title=USAF starts work on defining adaptive engine for future fighter |work=Flight Global |date=9 July 2018 |access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>

In 2016, the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) was launched with the goal of developing and testing adaptive engines for the future sixth generation fighter programs, Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) for USAF andor [[F/A-XX|Next Generation Air Dominance]] (NGAD) for USAF and [[F/A-XX program|F/A-XX]] for US Navy, as well as potential re-engining of the F-35. The program assigned the new designations [[XA100]] for General Electric's design and [[XA101]] for Pratt & Whitney's.<ref name="fg20180709">{{cite web |last=Trimble |first=Steven |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/usaf-starts-work-on-defining-adaptive-engine-for-future-fighter/128748.article |title=USAF starts work on defining adaptive engine for future fighter |work=Flight Global |date=9 July 2018 |access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> The next generation fighter engine would eventually become separate from the F-35 efforts due to the different optimizations required and was split off into the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. The competing designs for NGAP are the [[General Electric XA102|XA102]] from General Electric and [[Pratt & Whitney XA103|XA103]] from Pratt & Whitney.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tirpak |first=John |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-budget-finish-design-new-fighter-engine/ |title=Air Force Wants $1.3 Billion to Finish Design for New Fighter Engine |work=Air and Space Forces Magazine |date=5 April 2024}}</ref>

In 2017, Pratt wrapped up tests of their three stream engine with a F135 core, which may be used on the Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) platform.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/air-force-association/2017/09/18/pratt-whitney-completes-tests-for-new-adaptive-engine-that-could-power-future-fighter/ |title=Eyeing the future fighter, Pratt & Whitney hits milestone with new adaptive engine |last1=Insinna |first1= Valerie |date=18 September 2017 |website=www.defensenews.com |publisher=Sightline Media Group |accessdate=10 August 2018}}</ref>

==See also==

{{aircontent

|see also=<!-- other related articles that have not already linked: -->

* [[Improved Turbine Engine Program]] (AATEITEP)

|related=<!-- designs which were developed into or from this aircraft: -->

* [[General Electric XA100]]

* [[Pratt & Whitney XA101]]

* [[General Electric XA102]]

* [[Pratt & Whitney XA103]]

|similar engines=<!-- aircraft that are of similar role, era, and capability this design: -->

|lists=<!-- relevant lists that this aircraft appears in: -->