Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has issued a statement saying it will continue to work with the U.S. government on the Adaptive Engine Transition Program and other capability upgrades for the F-35 fighter aircraft.
“AETP technologies deliver more power and greater cooling capability, which is required as we modernize the F-35 beyond Block 4,” Lockheed said in the statement.
According to Lockheed, Pratt & Whitney and General Electric (NYSE: GE) offer technology options for AETP and that the fighter jet will require future upgrades since the aircraft’s service life is projected to run through 2070.
Greg Ulmer, executive vice president of aeronautics at Lockheed, said he supports AETP as an alternative to the F135 engine currently used on F-35s and that an adaptive engine not only provides new capability in terms of cooling and power but also improvement in aircraft performance, Breaking Defense reported.
“I’m thinking broader. I’m thinking longer-term,” Ulmer told the publication in an interview.
He added there is still interest in AETP despite the U.S. Air Force’s decision to scrap the program in the budget request for fiscal year 2024.
“I think they’ve made a decision informed by block four and the requirements as they understand them today. I think there’s elements within the Pentagon talking along the lines that there will be a block 5 and a block 6, and there’ll be other considerations in the future.”
