The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine powers the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the world’s most advanced multirole fighter aircraft.
This fifth-generation jet operates from key airbases worldwide, including NAS Lemoore and RAF Marham, and serves as the cornerstone of airpower for 17+ nations.
Despite being a single-engine design, unusual for its size, the F-35 outperforms many twin-engine fighters in mission capability and stealth. The F135 afterburning turbofan engine enables this success with unmatched thrust, thermal management, and mission readiness.
Photo: By U.S. Air Force – http://www.jsf.mil/images/gallery/sdd/f135/sdd_f135_018.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86285563Most Powerful Fighter Jet Engine
The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine is a technological leap in military aviation, engineered to meet the performance and survivability requirements of the F-35 Lightning II variants, F-35A (conventional), F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing), and F-35C (carrier-based).
Derived from the F119 engine used in the F-22 Raptor, the F135 delivers up to 43,000 lbf of thrust with afterburner and 28,000 lbf without, enabling stealth, supersonic speeds, and unmatched maneuverability.
The US and allied forces have already received over 1,300 F135 engines. By mid-2025, over 1,200 F-35 airframes had been delivered globally, including significant orders from Japan (147), the United Kingdom (138), and the United States (2,456).
According to Simple Flying, the F135 was selected over the GE/Rolls-Royce F136 after extensive testing and evaluation, based on its performance, reliability, and future upgrade potential.
Photo: Pratt and WhitneyUnique Features of the F135 Engine
Unlike many of its competitors, the F135 was designed for low observability, high efficiency, and simple maintenance:
- Low Thermal Signature: Critical for stealth, especially in contested environments.
- Digital Health Management: Real-time diagnostics reduce downtime and improve mission availability.
- Simplified Maintenance: Line-replaceable components can be swapped using just six standard tools.
- LiftSystem Integration: The F135-PW-600 variant, paired with the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, allows the F-35B to perform vertical landings and short takeoffs.
The engine architecture reduces part count, increasing reliability and decreasing the chance of in-mission failure, addressing concerns about using a single engine for combat missions.
F-35 Lightning II; Photo- WikipediaSingle-Engine Concerns
Single-engine configurations in military jets are controversial. In May 2025, President Trump publicly criticized the F-35’s lack of a backup engine, suggesting a hypothetical “F-55” with dual powerplants.
However, retrofitting a second engine into the F-35 would require a complete airframe redesign. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall dismissed the idea as “never considered.”
Despite occasional mishaps, the F-35’s safety record compares favorably with other fifth-generation jets.
Pratt & Whitney states that the F135’s failure rate is more than 10x lower than its predecessors. Its high performance and reliability justify the single-engine approach for the F-35 platform.
F-35 A Lightning; Photo: Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)Ongoing Enhancements and ECU Upgrades
Pratt & Whitney continues to invest in the Engine Core Upgrade (ECU), part of the F-35’s upcoming Block IV modernization. These enhancements include:
- Improved Fuel Efficiency: Extends range and mission duration.
- Enhanced Thermal Management: Supports future sensor and weapon integration.
- Increased Thrust & Durability: Prepares the F-35 for evolving combat needs.
Such upgrades are vital as global air forces adapt to more complex and longer-duration missions, often without guaranteed air tanker support.
F-47 Photo- US Air Force via APSixth Generation Foundation
Though the F135 meets current mission requirements, next-generation fighters like the F-47 and GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) will likely require twin-engine architectures.
These aircraft must deliver longer range, higher electrical output for directed energy weapons, and advanced data fusion capabilities.
While the MiG-31 remains the world’s fastest fighter at Mach 2.8, the F-35 (Mach 1.6) emphasizes stealth over speed.
As warfare prioritizes survivability and sensor fusion over raw velocity, the F135 engine’s design philosophy proves both practical and forward-looking.
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