WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - United Technologies Corp on Sunday said the forward section of the F135 engine that it is building for the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jet was damaged during a qualification test this weekend.
Pratt & Whitney, the United Technologies unit doing the work, said an investigation was ongoing and it was working closely with Lockheed and the Pentagon's F-35 program office to resolve the issue.
Spokesman Jay DeFrank said the damage was not 'mendable,' and the engine would be taken off the test line. He said the company was seeking to minimize any impact to continued testing of the engine and the F-35 flight test schedule.
Pratt said a redesigned turbine section of the F135 engine was not affected. The company had to redesign the turbine section after engine problems that occurred two years ago. (Andrea Shalal-Esa in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Pratt & Whitney, the United Technologies unit doing the work, said an investigation was ongoing and it was working closely with Lockheed and the Pentagon's F-35 program office to resolve the issue.
Spokesman Jay DeFrank said the damage was not 'mendable,' and the engine would be taken off the test line. He said the company was seeking to minimize any impact to continued testing of the engine and the F-35 flight test schedule.
Pratt said a redesigned turbine section of the F135 engine was not affected. The company had to redesign the turbine section after engine problems that occurred two years ago. (Andrea Shalal-Esa in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News
