propulsion

An F-35A assigned to the 33rd fighter wing caught fire yesterday while taking off on a training mission from the Eglin Air Force Base. The pilot escaped unharmed and no injuries were reported but the aircraft suffered major damage

Snecma, the French engine manufacturer of the Safran group is working on an 'open rotor' engine that promises to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels, and reduce acoustic signature powering the passenger airplanes in the 2030s. The goal of the current research is to test a jet engine that consumes 30% less fuel than today’s powerplants. This new type...

Silent Falcon UAS is introducing at AUVSI 2013 a small drone, designed to perform long endurance missions of up to 14 hours using solar power. The drone called Silent Falcon, can be launched by hand or from a vehicle, and carry a dual-sensor payload weighing about 1.3 kg. According to the manufacturer the drone has completed development and is...

North Korea launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile from a submarine in the East Sea Saturday, the South Korean military said. South Korea's defence ministry said the missile, fired from a submarine in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), flew around 30 kilometres (18 miles) and that the test showed "certain technological progress" in the North's SLBM capability.

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to attract an international partner for the development of the troubled Kaveri jet engine program, through an international, open tender, after the joint program with French engine maker Snecma failed to deliver the expected results.

IAI Elta is introducing a new air defense, surveillance, threat alert and air traffic control radar (AD STAR) offering an affordable, mission specific solution for customers worldwide. In recent years IAI Elta has witnessed a growing demand for air surveillance radars, with customers planning to phase out legacy air defense radar system.

The Department of Defense (DoD) today issued a stop work order in connection with the Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine program, halting development of the F-136, which was designed to offer competing engine option for F-35 customers. The program is under development by a consortium of General Electric and Rolls Royce. While the announcement does not terminate the alternate...

China is setting up a conglomerate that will merge three aircraft engine manufacturers. The move is expected to improve China's indigenous design and manufacturing of aircraft and aero-propulsion systems. Though one of the biggest aviation markets, the country is still heavily reliant on imported engines for military and commercial aviation.

Pratt & Whitney announced today the certification of its F135 engine to power the Lightning II's first flight later this year after successfully completing all tests scheduled to date. The F135 has achieved Initial Flight Release from the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO). Robert Burnes, JPO F-35 propulsion director, has declared all F135 tests and verification reports complete, clearing...

Dependable Engines: With Evolving Military Landscapes, Pratt & Whitney Remains Steadfa

Boeing's Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system (UAS) completed its first autonomous flight June 1 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

General Electric and Rolls Royce are planning to begin testing a production configured of the F136, the alternate power plant for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. "Based our successful test results and the recent completion of our Critical Design Review, we’re on track to begin testing the F136 production-configuration in just a few months,” said Jean Lydon-Rodgers,...

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has been awarded a research and development contract for the Counter Air / Future Naval Capabilities (CA/FNC) program to develop technologies that can be incorporated into next generation air-to-air missile systems. The contract, worth nearly $10-million will fund a four year study by ATK, evaluating specific propulsion technologies considered for integration into the future missile systems.While...