Pratt & Whitney, Northrop Begin Ground Tests for X-47B J-UCAS Engine

Source URL: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-12-2005/0004087497&EDATE=
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/590

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney and Northrop Grumman Corporation have begun ground testing the power plant for the X-47B Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) at Pratt & Whitney's advanced test facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Pratt & Whitney completed assembly of the first ground test engine at the company's engine center in San Antonio, Texas. The engine was delivered in June and has accumulated over 80 ground test hours to date.

"The ground testing program will validate all major elements of the X-47B propulsion system, including inlet compatibility, exhaust system performance and durability, controls, and subsystem integration," said Jim Reed, J-UCAS Program Manager for Pratt & Whitney. "Included in the ground test run series was a simulated carrier approach throttle cycle. The engine performance has been flawless to date."

The J-UCAS engine is a modified version of the Pratt & Whitney F100-220E that powers current F-15E and F-16 aircraft. Pratt & Whitney joined the Northrop Grumman-led J-UCAS X-47 team in 2003. The team will produce up to three full-scale X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrators for the U.S. Navy and Air Force.

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