Pratt And Whitney has delivered the first F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) propulsion system including the Rolls-Royce Lift System to Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. The propulsion system will support airframe and engine interface evaluations for the first STOVL flight test aircraft, scheduled for its initial flight in May 2008. Pratt and Whitney is a United Technologies.
"The on-time delivery of the first STOVL propulsion system is a significant milestone for the F135 program and is attributed to the partnership between Pratt and Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Hamilton Sundstrand, Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office," said Bill Gostic, vice president, Pratt and Whitney F135 engine program. "The team is completely focused on meeting our commitments to our customers, including first STOVL flight in 2008 and first production aircraft delivery in 2009."
"The STOVL propulsion system for the F-35B is a uniquely capable system," said Kevin McCarty, program director STOVL, Rolls-Royce. "This is a key step on the road to flight qualification and we look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate the capability of the system."
