The next great engine war analysis and recommendations for managing the Joint Strike Fighter Engine competition

Abstract

This research evaluates the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program acquisition of Pratt & Whitney (P and W) F135 and the General Electric Aircraft Engines/Rolls Royce (GEAE/RR) F136 engines. This study examines existing research on the first *Great Engine War*. The first Great Engine War was an attempt by the Government to encourage Pratt & Whitney, the sole winner of the F- 16 fighter engine propulsion contract, to be more responsive to shortcomings in design and support. When P and W declared that any design changes would be out of the scope of the current contract, the government contracted with GEAE to produce an alternate engine design to compete against P&W. The competition was a success. The study also includes Interviews with veterans of the Great Engine War. The findings are balanced against the current JSF acquisition planning to ensure applicability. The research and analysis yielded the following recommendations to guide the JSF future engine acquisition: ensure airframe commonality for both engines, continue to purchase and support the engines as Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE), utilize supportability costs as competition criteria, maintain a concerted effort to encourage both competitors to attempt to win the maximum share, and do not participate in a Component Improvement Program.