Pratt & Whitney has completed a fully digital assembly readiness review for its XA103 engine, part of the U.S. Air Force Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program. The review transitions the project from digital design to procurement and production of physical hardware, with engine test assembly planned for the late 2020s.
The XA103 features a three-stream adaptive cycle design that adjusts airflow between a third bypass stream for fuel efficiency and cooling, or core and fan streams for increased thrust. This configuration supports improved survivability, range, and power and thermal management for next-generation platforms, including potential use in the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter. The engine incorporates heat-resistant materials such as ceramic matrix composites to enable higher turbine temperatures.
Development involves over 1,000 engineers and more than 100 suppliers using digital models to accelerate design iterations and integration. Pratt & Whitney previously completed preliminary and detailed design reviews. The XA103 competes with GE Aerospace XA102 for Air Force selection.