House votes to cut second F-35 engine

**Stitch** · 07 May 11,, 03:23

Originally Posted by highsea

Update on this- GE has told the House Armed Services Cmte that they will fund the FY12 F136 development out of pocket. That will finish up the final 20%.

So we may have two engines after all.

Watch out Pratt!

Good article on the above: GE, Rolls-Royce to self-fund F136 after stop-work order

**Jimmy** · 07 May 11,, 14:24

I really like GE. I'm glad to see them do this, and I hope it works out. I like PW too, but it sounds like the GE/RR may have the better engine.

**highsea** · 07 May 11,, 22:02

McKeon did a couple things the other day.

He wrote into the defense authorization that any requirement to upthrust the F135 for the F-35B results in a competitive bidding process.

Pratt immediately came out with a statement that upthrusting the F135 was not going to be necessary after all, lol. They simulataneously announced "agressive cost cutting measures" for F135.

$3 Billion over budget....Think they got the message?

McKeon also wrote that the engine for NGB must be competitively bid. He obviously sees the F136 as the preferred engine for the NGB.