Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology: Difference between revisions

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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"/>

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>