Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Powers New B-21 Written 6 December 2022
The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is unveiled at Northrop Grumman Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Palmdale, California. | Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez; Associated Press–©
Connecticut Post reports that the B-21 “is the Air Force’s first new bomber since the 1989 debut of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, with both using a ‘flying wing’ design to reduce the odds of showing up on radar, which uses four engines from GE Aviation.” The Air Force “has yet to specify how many engines will power the B-21.” Military trade publications “have cited analyst speculation that the B-21 engine may be a variant of the F135 engine Pratt & Whitney makes for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.” Pratt & Whitney recently “completed its 1,000th engine under the F135 program.” Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes said, “The F135 ... is the safest, most capable and best-value, military jet engine in operation. We’re working on the F135 engine core upgrade. ... This will allow the F135 to provide even more thrust, range and electrification to the aircraft.”
Full Story (Connecticut Post)