According to a report by Flight International on September 25th, aerospace system manufacturer Honeywell plans to complete power and heat treatment system upgrades for the F-35 by 2027. The President of Honeywell Defense and Space Technology stated that its progress is roughly synchronized with Pratt&Whitney's upgrade project for the F-35 engine.

It is reported that the US Department of Defense has not yet clarified the long-term demand for more power and heat treatment capabilities for the F-35 in the future, so the upgrade indicators for related systems will be determined by Lockheed Martin, the main contractor of the F-35. Honeywell's positioning in this project is to provide specific solutions for Lockheed Martin. The heat treatment system (PTMS) of the F-35 is produced by Honeywell, but Collins Aerospace has also released a competitive proposal for the upgrade project.

According to reports, the heat treatment system currently produced by Honeywell for the F-35 can be used in conjunction with the F135 engine to provide power to onboard systems and instantly dissipate the heat generated by various subsystems of the aircraft.

Since the first appearance of the F-35, as the performance of various subsystems continues to improve, the requirements for onboard power and cooling have also increased. The traditional approach requires transferring additional cold air from the power unit to the heat treatment system, but this will reduce engine performance and increase losses, shortening engine lifespan.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found in a report that excessive engine load could add $38 billion in additional maintenance costs to the F-35 program. Therefore, the US Department of Defense hopes that both Pratt&Whitney and Honeywell will upgrade the F135 engine and heat treatment system to further enhance the performance of the F-35 fighter jet.

Upgrade Plan

Upgrade content: Honeywell plans to complete the power and heat treatment system upgrade for the F-35.

Upgrade Progress: Roughly synchronized with Pratt&Whitney's upgrade project for the F-35 engine, expected to be completed by 2027.

Upgrade indicators: As the US Department of Defense has not yet clarified the long-term demand for more power and heat treatment capabilities for the F-35 in the future, the upgrade indicators for related systems will be determined by Lockheed Martin, the main contractor of the F-35. Honeywell's positioning in this project is to provide specific solutions for Lockheed Martin.

Upgrade significance

Technological Enhancement: The upgraded heat treatment system (PTMS) will significantly increase its cooling capacity from 30 kW to 80 kW, which can meet the future cooling needs of the F-35 in Block 4 upgrades.

Economic considerations: This upgrade is expected to further increase the operational and maintenance (O&S) costs of the aircraft throughout its lifecycle, but future engine upgrades provided by Pratt&Whitney can offset this cost.

Collaboration and Competition: The F-35 Joint Program Office stated that improvements to PTMU (Power and Thermal Management Unit) and individual upgrades to the F135 engine are crucial for the future development of the F-35. The winner of this improved tender will upgrade the thermal management system for most of the existing 1000 F-35 models, and future F-35s will also adopt this new system. And this bidding will be conducted between Honeywell and Collins Airlines.

In summary, Honeywell's plan to complete the F-35 heat treatment system upgrade in 2027 is an important technology improvement program aimed at enhancing the performance and combat capabilities of the F-35 fighter jet. This plan not only reflects Honeywell's leading position and technological strength in the field of aviation system manufacturing, but also demonstrates its profound understanding and accurate grasp of future war needs and fighter jet development trends.