Air Force sees another year delay for next-gen engines – Breaking Defense
2 min read
Certainly, the U.S. Air Force has announced another delay for its next-generation fighter engine program. Furthermore, the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) project will now complete prototyping in 2031. Moreover, both GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are competing to build these engines.
However, the advanced adaptive engine technology could greatly improve fuel efficiency and power. Importantly, the Air Force is requesting over $500 million for the program next year. Eventually, they will downselect one company to continue development. In contrast, this delay likely means the new engine won’t be ready for the F-47 fighter soon.
| Comparison Category | GE Aerospace (XA102) | Pratt & Whitney / RTX (XA103) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest Milestone Achieved | Cleared Assembly Readiness Review; executing in alignment with Air Force funding and test timeline | Completed a fully digital Assembly Readiness Review; transitioning from digital design to producing physical hardware for testing |
| Contract Award Ceiling | $3.5 Billion | $3.5 Billion |
| FY27 Air Force Budget Request (NGAP total) | ~$514 Million (shared across both contractors); rising to ~$906 Million in FY28 | |
| Prototype Completion Target | 2031 (delayed ~3 years from original projections); reflects expanded test & evaluation needs | |
| Strategic Outlook | Company emphasizes close partnership with the Air Force and adaptive engine technology delivery to the warfighter | Company states it “remains fully committed” to NGAP; executing successfully with government-provided funding |
Next-Gen Engines Delay
Next-gen engines delay F-47 timeline
“reflects expanded test and evaluation of NGAP prototypes and allows investigation of test findings.”
Ultimately, the Air Force’s next-gen engine program now faces a three-year delay.
Consequently, full prototyping will not finish until 2031.
Thus, adaptive engine technology still requires more testing and development.
Therefore, the new F-47 fighter will likely fly without this advanced engine.
In summary, the propulsion effort prioritizes careful evaluation over speed.
Accordingly, warfighters may wait longer for this leap in capability.
