EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. company Pratt & Whitney announced the rollout of the first re-engined Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney and Texas-based joint venture Seven Q Seven successfully rolled out a re-engined Joint STARS aircraft marking a milestone for the JT8D-219 engine.
Pratt & Whitney has been contracted to integrate its JT8D-219 engines with the Joint STARS aircraft as part of an effort to improve the efficiency of the aircraft propulsion system. Pratt & Whitney and SQS are expected to deliver the JT8D-219 engines, a derivative of the commercial aircraft JT8D-200 series propulsion systems, for the Air Force's fleet of 19 Joint STARS aircraft.
"We are proud of this milestone for the JT8D-219 engine and the Joint STARS aircraft," Bev Deachin, Pratt & Whitney director of airlift and mobility programs, said in a statement.
"The rollout of the Pratt & Whitney-powered aircraft puts us one step closer to providing our U.S. Air Force customer with a more efficient, powerful and dependable propulsion source for the Joint STARS."
