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USAF awards two USD3.5 billion contract modifications for NGAP prototypes

By Zach Rosenberg |

Artist's rendering of airflow over GE's XA100 third-stream engine, developed for the USAF's AETP. Following AETP's cancellation, much of XA100's technology is expected to be used in NGAP. (General Electric)

The US Air Force (USAF) awarded two contract modifications to General Electric (GE) and Pratt & Whitney (P&W) on 27 January, each raising the financial ceiling on USD975 million contracts awarded in 2022. The modifications, which raise the contract ceilings to USD3.5 billion, are intended to build prototype ‘third-stream' engines to equip the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter. Work is expected to last through 2032.

GE and P&W have been working on third-stream designs, the XA102 and XA101 respectively, for several years. The engines originally competed to replace the Lockheed Martin F-35's P&W F135 engine under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP), which was cancelled in 2023 in favour of upgrades to the F135 engine core.

The 2022 contract award called for prototype engine testing and integration with undisclosed Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman platforms, although USAF officials have since stressed that it does not mean providers will have engines or platforms to integrate. Northrop Grumman announced in 2023 that it did not intend to submit a bid to build NGAD, which likely renders its integration contract moot.

“Pratt & Whitney is working closely with the US Air Force to execute on and meet NGAP [Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion] programme commitments. Our programme remains on track for major milestones, and we look forward to delivering for our customer,” P&W told Janes on 29 January. The company declined to elaborate on its engine's technical progress.

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