Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:16, 11 June 2013

Revision as of 16:43, 12 July 2013

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==History==

The ADVENT program is one of several related development projects being pursued under the Air Force's [[Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines]] (VAATE) program. After being announced in April 2007, [[Rolls-Royce plc|Rolls-Royce]] and [[GE Aviation]] were awarded Phase I contracts in August 2007 to explore concepts, develop and test critical components, and begin preliminary designs of an engine.<ref name="wppress"/><ref>Trimble, Steven. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/25/217104/pratt-whitney-loses-second-bid-for-usaf-engine-technology.html "Pratt & Whitney Loses Second Bit for USAF Technology Contracts"]. Flightglobal, 25 September 2007. Accessed: 20 October 2009.</ref>

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>

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The ADVENT engine was originally targeted at the Air Force's 2018 [[Next-Generation Bomber]], but uncertainty in that program has led Rolls-Royce (RR), one of the primary developers involved with the project, to predict that the ADVENT engine will be better suited for a potential 2020 engine upgrade for the [[F-35 Lightning II]]. RR, who is partnered with GE Aviation on the embattled [[General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136|F136]] alternate engine for the F-35, has suggested that the ADVENT development contracts are all the more reason to continue the F136, as any engine upgrade from [[Pratt & Whitney]] (makers of the [[Pratt & Whitney F135|F135]] engine currently used in the F-35) would have to be separately funded, either internally or to additional government cost.<ref>Trimble, Steven. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/11/327771/rolls-royce-f136-survival-is-key-for-major-f-35-engine.html "Rolls Royce: F136 Survival is key for major F-35 engine upgrade"] ''[[Flight International]]'', 11 June 2009, Accessed: 20 Oct 2009</ref>

In light of this threat, Pratt 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> 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>. Pratt & Whitney was selected over Rolls Royce to continue along with GE for 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>.

==See also==