Engines
F-35 Alternative Engine Option Revived
The U.S. House Armed Services Committee has revived the alternative engine option in draft legislation for the Fiscal Year 2012 defense authorization act.
GE and partner Rolls-Royce have agreed to self-fund the development of the F136, the alternative F-35 engine, for the next two fiscal years.
GE and partner Rolls-Royce have agreed to self-fund the development of the F136, the alternative F-35 engine, for the next two fiscal years.

The Pentagon issued a “stop work” order for the GE Aviation F136 engine in late March, and the Fiscal Year 2011 U.S. defense budget was finally signed into law last month, without funding for the alternative F-35 engine. But the fight for the F136 is not yet over.

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has revived the alternative engine option in draft legislation for the Fiscal Year 2012 defense authorization act. A GE Aviation spokesman said that the company, together with 40 percent partner Rolls-Royce, has agreed to a proposal from the HASC chairman that the contractors self-fund continuing development of the F136 over the next two fiscal years.