F135 engine marks testing milestone

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., July 29 (UPI) -- U.S. company Pratt & Whitney has achieved a milestone for its F135 engine development following the successful completion of more than 15,600 test hours.

The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, designed to support the U.S. Air Force's new F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, has completed more than 12,000 engine test hours during the system development and demonstration phase.

Company officials announced that the SDD phase combined with the F-35 concept demonstration program's accumulated 3,600 test hours puts the F135 engine at more than 15,600 hours marking a milestone for the propulsion system's development. The testing mark additionally keeps the engine program on track for the F-35 aircraft.

"Pratt & Whitney is proud of the F135's performance in the successful ground and flight test programs," Warren Boley, Pratt & Whitney F135 engine programs vice president, said in a statement.

"This successful testing demonstrates the dependability and reliability of Pratt & Whitney's F135 propulsion system and the maturity that comes with the first production engines that we will deliver later this year."