F-22 Engine Sustenance Receives $1.5B Boost; Improvements on the Horizon for Pratt
F-22 Raptor's F119 Engines to be Sustained under $1.5 Billion Contract
Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX, has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 billion contract by the Air Force to support the F119 engines powering the F-22 Raptor fleet. The agreement covers integrated logistics support, including engineering, forecasting, manufacturing, purchasing, and part ordering for approximately 400 engines.
With around 180 F-22 aircraft in operation, each utilizes two F119 engines along with spare units. Pratt & Whitney is also working on an incremental modernization of the F119 engine, including a software update to increase thrust, which could potentially extend the F-22's service life in light of uncertainties regarding the Next-Generation Air Dominance program.
Discussions are underway between Pratt & Whitney, the Air Force, and Lockheed Martin to initiate another software update for the F119. The F-22, built by Lockheed Martin, is currently being modernized, and the engine plays a crucial role in supporting new capabilities as they are integrated into the airframe.
Pratt & Whitney is proactively working to improve the F119 in preparation for any increased engine requirements due to uncertainties surrounding the Next-Generation Air Dominance program. The F-22 was initially slated for retirement in favor of the sixth-generation Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform, but the Air Force paused work on NGAD last year due to concerns about cost and requirements. The incoming Trump administration's Air Force leaders will decide NGAD's fate.
In the interim, the Air Force is preparing capability improvements for the Raptor, suggesting the F-22 will remain in service well into the 2030s. These improvements include infrared search and track systems, improved sensors, reduced radar cross section, stealthy, low-drag fuel tanks for increased range, and a new long-range air-to-air missile, the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile.
One of Pratt & Whitney's approaches to improving the F119 is the Usage-Based Lifing (UBL) data tracking system, which leverages real-time data to enhance maintenance efficiency and extend engine life while improving engine performance with an engine control schedule update. This system was first introduced in September 2024 and is now the "single source of truth" about the health and performance of the F119.
Through UBL, real-time flight data tracking is used to support sustainment needs by providing maintenance when it's actually needed rather than when it's forecast to be needed. The UBL system also employs digital tools and modeling to advise the Air Force on when F119 parts need to be overhauled and how to efficiently buy spare parts. Initial estimates suggest that UBL could save the U.S. government nearly $800 million over the life cycle of the program.
The F119 engine, which generates over 35,000 pounds of thrust, allows the F-22 to operate above 65,000 feet and was the first jet engine designed to supercruise: achieve and maintain supersonic speed without using afterburners. Pratt & Whitney is also considering additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, for F119 parts to simplify the supply chain, reduce production time and cost, and lead to increased readiness.
[Enrichment Data]The F119 engine has benefited from advanced diagnostics and monitoring systems since the early 1990s, such as Gastops’ MetalSCAN ODM sensors. These sensors support ongoing engineering monitoring and diagnostics, aligning with the principles of the Usage-Based Lifing (UBL) system. By focusing on real-time engineering monitoring, the F119's UBL practices enhance the F-22's engine sustainability and lead to cost savings through optimized maintenance schedules. However, specific public updates on the formal UBL system's implementation status and detailed metrics on cost savings are not publicly available in current literature.
- The Air Force, in collaboration with Pratt & Whitney and Lockheed Martin, is planning another software update for the F119 engine, which powers the F-22 Raptor's air force, as they aim to integrate new capabilities into the aircraft.
- As Pratt & Whitney works on modernizing the F119 engine, they are also considering the use of advanced technology such as additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, to simplify the supply chain, reduce production time, and cost, ultimately leading to increased readiness.
- The F119 engine, a crucial component of the F-22 aircraft, has been enabled by space technology, allowing the Raptor to operate above 65,000 feet and was the first jet engine designed to supercruise: achieve and maintain supersonic speed without using afterburners, demonstrating the integration of military technology into aviation.
