Pratt&Whitney F119-PW-100

Pratt&Whitney F119-PW-100 General Description

The F119-PW-100 is a revolutionary advance in fighter aircraft propulsion. The F119 engine develops more than twice the thrust of current engines under supersonic conditions, and more thrust without afterburner than conventional engines with afterburner. Each F-22 will be powered by two of these 35,000-pound-thrust-class engines. By comparison, the engines powering the Air Forceís current F-15 and F-16 fighters have thrust ratings ranging from 23,000 to 29,000 pounds. Jet engines achieve additional thrust by directly injecting fuel at the engine exhaust. The process, called afterburner, gives the aircraft a rocket-like boost as the fuel ignites in the exhaust chamber. The tradeoff is higher fuel consumption, a greater amount of heat, and consequently, greater visibility to the enemy. The F119 can push the F-22 to supersonic speeds above Mach 1.4 even without the use of afterburner, which gives the fighter a greater operating range and allows for stealthier flight operation. The product of more than 40 years' research into high-speed propulsion systems, the F119 is proof that high-technology doesn't have to be complicated.

Design

A balanced approach to the design process, using a team approach called Integrated Product Development (IPD), led to an engine as innovative in its reliability and support as in its performance. Assemblers and flight line mechanics participated in the F119's design from its inception. The result is that ease of assembly, maintenance and repair are designed into the engine. The F119 has 40 percent fewer major parts than current fighter engines, and each part is more durable and does its job more efficiently. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the study of airflow using advanced computers, led to the design of engine turbomachinery of unprecedented efficiency, giving the F119 more thrust with fewer turbine stages. The F119 cuts requirements for support equipment and labor by one-half, which also saves precious space in airlifters in combat zone deployments. The F119 will require 75 percent fewer shop visits for routine maintenance than its predecessors

F119/F-22 Engine Nozzle The F119 engine nozzle for the F-22 is the world's first full production vectoring nozzle, fully integrated into the aircraft/engine combination as original equipment. The two-dimensional nozzle vectors thrust 20 degrees up and down for improved aircraft agility. This vectoring increases the roll rate of the aircraft by 50 percent and has features that contribute to the aircraft stealth requirements. Heat-resistant components give the nozzles the durability needed to vector thrust, even in afterburner conditions.
With precision digital controls, the nozzles work like another aircraft flight control surface. Thrust vectoring is an integrated part of the F-22's flight control system, which allows for seamless integration of all components working in response to pilot commands. The nozzle is manufactured at Pratt & Whitney's West Palm Beach facility, home to the company's military engine design and prototype construction.

The F-22 is slower than most of today's fighters. Maximum speed is set by airframe temperatures and by the use of fixed geometry air inlets. This because variable inlets are hard to make stealthy. However, the F-22 is able to attain its maximum speed (About Mach1.8) with all weapons and most of the fuel; something which no other fighter is capable of.
Without afterburning the F-22 is 50% faster than any other fighter flying at this moment and capable of so-called supercruising; flying up to speeds of mach 1.5 without using afterburner.