The 2 bulletins spotlight RTX’s parallel work on each air-breathing and stable rocket propulsion applied sciences via its companies.
RTX made two propulsion bulletins on Sept. 24, 2025, highlighting the corporate’s involvement in each air-breathing and rocket applied sciences via its companies. Pratt & Whitney revealed that it has accomplished vital checks on its small turbofan engine household, whereas Raytheon introduced the acceleration of the Mk 104 dual-thrust rocket motor’s manufacturing.
Pratt & Whitney Unlocks Extra Thrust for Collaborative Fight Plane
Pratt & Whitney accomplished a collection of vital checks on its household of small turbofan engines, that are supposed to be used on Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA). A number of the small turbofans produced by the corporate are already used for munitions and decoys, and this testing may open new potentialities.
“For unmanned purposes, our commercial-off-the-shelf engines can supply an as much as 20% improve of their certified thrust functionality,” stated Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney’s Army Engines enterprise. “Which means we will ship elevated efficiency from these manufacturing engines. In the end, this can enable for diminished value and weight for a number of purposes.”
With CCAs supposed to supply the U.S. Air Drive with “inexpensive fight mass,” having an inexpensive but succesful propulsion possibility is vital. The engines utilized by the primary two CCAs chosen by the service, the YFQ-42 and YFQ-44, haven’t been disclosed, nonetheless the Pratt & Whitney PW300 and PW500 engines are among the many rumored candidates, along with the Williams FJ44.
The corporate is now conducting a second spherical of checks monitoring inlet airflow and stress variations for engines embedded throughout the plane. As efficiency might be impacted if airflow to the engine is interrupted or blocked, the checks are deliberately distorting airflow across the flight envelope.
By doing so, the corporate is growing a predictive mannequin of engine efficiency throughout the flight envelope. These checks, mixed with digital twin simulations, enable engineers to cut back integration danger and guarantee dependable operation when embedded into future CCA designs.
Raytheon and Avio USA Speed up Mk 104 Rocket Motor Improvement
On the identical day as Pratt & Whitney’s announcement, Raytheon revealed an growth of its collaboration with Avio USA to increase manufacturing capability for the Mk 104 dual-thrust rocket motor, 13 months after the 2 companies signed a contract for preliminary engineering work on the Mk 104. A purchase order order price as much as $26 million will fund continued engineering work via the Essential Design Overview (CDR) part, procurement of long-lead supplies, and preparations for full qualification.
The Mk 104 motor is a core part of Raytheon’s Normal Missile franchise, utilized by the U.S. Navy and allied fleets worldwide. Guaranteeing dependable and scalable manufacturing of the motor is due to this fact a precedence for sustaining missile availability, particularly following the renewed give attention to air protection munitions.
“This buy order represents an vital step in increasing our provide chain to make sure the resilience and availability of the Mk 104 rocket motor,” stated Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Energy at Raytheon. “By strategically implementing second sourcing for vital supplies, we’re not solely enhancing our capability to fulfill buyer demand but additionally strengthening our manufacturing capability for the Normal Missile franchise.”
Avio USA, supported by Italian dad or mum firm Avio SpA, is contributing experience in SRM engineering, materials characterization, laboratory and hearth testing, and integration, in accordance with Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio SpA. “We’re proud to proceed our work on Mk 104, which is so vital to america and our allies,” stated VADM (Ret.) James Syring, CEO of Avio USA.
Based on Protection Information, Avio will beginning on the Mk 104 at its website in Colleferro, Italy, whereas engaged on opening a U.S. manufacturing website. Ranzo additional stated to the publication that the manufacture would begin inside 18 months to qualify as a second supply.
