WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney
and Northrop Grumman Corporation have begun ground testing the power plant for
the X-47B Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) at Pratt & Whitney's
advanced test facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Pratt & Whitney completed assembly of the first ground test engine at the
company's engine center in San Antonio, Texas. The engine was delivered in
June and has accumulated over 80 ground test hours to date.
"The ground testing program will validate all major elements of the X-47B
propulsion system, including inlet compatibility, exhaust system performance
and durability, controls, and subsystem integration," said Jim
Reed, J-UCAS Program Manager for Pratt & Whitney. "Included in the ground
test run series was a simulated carrier approach throttle cycle. The engine
performance has been flawless to date."
The J-UCAS engine is a modified version of the Pratt & Whitney F100-220E
that powers current F-15E and F-16 aircraft. Pratt & Whitney joined the
Northrop Grumman-led J-UCAS X-47 team in 2003. The team will produce up to
three full-scale X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrators for the U.S.
Navy and Air Force.
"This is the first of many critical milestones the J-UCAS Engine Team is
challenged with," said Scott Winship, the J-UCAS Program Director. "The
engine has been running flawlessly and we look forward to commencement of
flight testing in 2008 when we'll demonstrate the X-47's operational
capabilities."
The joint DARPA/Air Force/Navy J-UCAS program will demonstrate the
technical feasibility and operational utility of low observability or
"stealth" land- and sea-based unmanned surveillance-attack aircraft, and
provide the Air Force and Navy the option to acquire these systems early in
the next decade. To this end, the X-47B is designed to demonstrate a variety
of foundational system capabilities, including land- and carrier-based
operations, automated aerial refueling, and such key missions as persistent
surveillance and reconnaissance, all-weather precision targeting, and
precision attack of fixed and mobile surface targets.
The X-47B is Northrop Grumman's initial air vehicle configuration for the
modular X-47 system, which is capable of supporting a broad range of advanced
unmanned air vehicle configurations and military operational performance
requirements.
Northrop Grumman's J-UCAS program is being led by the company's Integrated
Systems sector, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. Other major industry
teammates include Lockheed Martin Corporation and GKN Aerospace.
Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) Integrated Systems is a premier aerospace
and defense systems integration organization. Headquartered in El Segundo,
Calif., it designs, develops, produces and supports integrated systems and
subsystems optimized for use on networks. For its government and civil
customers worldwide, Integrated Systems delivers best-value solutions,
products and services that support military and homeland defense missions in
the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; space access;
battle management command and control; and integrated strike warfare.
Pratt & Whitney military engine models include the F135 for the F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter; the F119 powering the F/A-22 Raptor; the F117 for the C-17
Globemaster III; the F100 for F-15 and F-16 fighters; the J52 for the EA-6B
Prowler; the TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, C-141 and KC-135
aircraft; the TF30 for the F-111, the PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and
JT15 for the T-1A trainer and Pegasus UCAV.
Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) company, is a world
leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space
propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines.
Contact: Matthew Perra
(860) 565-8938
matthew.perra@pw.utc.com
SOURCE Pratt & Whitney
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Related links:
http://www.pratt-whitney.com
CONTACT:
Matthew Perra of Pratt & Whitney,
+1-860-565-8938 or matthew.perra@pw.utc.com
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