GE Aerospace Moves Toward First Assembly of XA102 Next-Generation Fighter Engine

GE Aerospace says it is progressing toward assembly of its first XA102 test engine, an adaptive cycle powerplant being developed under the US Air Force’s Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) programme. NGAP is intended to deliver propulsion for the developmental Boeing F-47, a sixth-generation fighter, and potentially other future aircraft.

Jorge Perez, general manager of Edison Works Advanced Combat Engines at GE Aerospace, said the team is working with suppliers to procure hardware and test subcomponents ahead of building the first test asset. He pointed to the earlier XA100 effort as the foundation for the company’s work on adaptive cycle technology.

Adaptive cycle engines can alter their internal airflow in flight, allowing an aircraft to switch between high-power performance and fuel-efficient cruising, while also increasing cooling capacity for onboard electronics. The XA100, developed under the Air Force’s previous Adaptive Engine Transition Program, demonstrated this approach and informed GE’s current design.

A notable element of the XA102 programme is its use of digital engineering. According to GE Aerospace, the XA102 is the first engine developed using model-based definition (MBD) — three-dimensional digital models — rather than traditional two-dimensional drawings. The company says it is helping suppliers adopt MBD in their manufacturing and inspection processes, and that it completed demonstrations of these model-based engineering practices in the first phase of the programme. GE frames the approach as a way to shorten development timelines and control costs.

GE is not alone in the competition. Pratt & Whitney, a unit of RTX, is developing a rival NGAP engine designated the XA103, and has begun assembling its prototype. The Air Force’s decision on eventual production propulsion for sixth-generation aircraft remains a key long-term factor for both engine makers.

Shares of GE Aerospace, which trades on the NYSE as GE, closed at $325.48, down 2.98% from the previous close of $335.49, giving the company a market capitalisation of roughly $337.7 billion.

What to watch

• Completion of XA102 hardware procurement and start of first-engine assembly
• Milestone decisions under the NGAP programme, including any down-select between GE’s XA102 and Pratt & Whitney’s XA103
• GE Aerospace’s upcoming earnings reports and any commentary on defence propulsion programme progress
• F-47 programme developments that could shape future propulsion requirements

Source: original release