Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., has been awarded a $437 million contract modification by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) for next generation adaptive propulsion risk reduction for potential air superiority applications. 

"We look forward to continuing the maturation of adaptive engine technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force for the next generation of combat aircraft," said Chris Flynn, Vice President of Military Development Programs at Pratt & Whitney.

"In addition to providing a seamless transition between high thrust and fuel efficiency, adaptive propulsion can enable an unprecedented range of capability growth in mission systems and heat dissipation capacity at the air vehicle level. We are committed to giving the warfighter a technological advantage."

Along with a demand-modulated engine architecture, Pratt & Whitney is also maturing an adaptive technology suite that includes control systems as well as power and thermal management systems to enable enhanced range, persistence, survivability, and maintainability capabilities for advanced weapon systems.

In addition to advancing proven fifth-generation engine technology, Pratt & Whitney is leveraging learnings from design and test activities completed as part of the Adaptive Engine Technology Development (AETD) effort to ensure the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) refines the technologies necessary to meet future mission requirements of air superiority applications.