Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has completed a fully digital technical assessment of its XA103 engine for the U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. The assembly readiness review marks Pratt & Whitney's progress in transitioning from designing in a digital environment to procuring and producing physical hardware.
"This milestone demonstrates Pratt & Whitney's investment in digital infrastructure, showcasing seamlessly integrated digital capabilities and reinforcing our strong collaboration with the U.S. Air Force," said Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney's Military Engines business. "As we move forward with assembling our engine for testing, our NGAP team is simultaneously developing novel digital validation tools. The performance we expect this engine to deliver exceeds anything available today, reinforcing the critical importance of continuous improvement and stable investment in maintaining propulsion as a strategic competitive advantage."
The XA103 engine's adaptive design will provide advanced survivability, fuel efficiency, and robust power and thermal management for next-generation platforms. This will enable the U.S. Air Force to meet evolving operational needs and maintain global air dominance.
Pratt & Whitney's NGAP team is working with its supply base to procure the components needed to assemble the XA103 for test, which is expected in the late 2020s.