RTX Corporation reports aerospace and defense developments across Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon. News commonly covers Collins avionics, commercial aviation radars, satellite and secure communications components, and multi-domain security solutions; Pratt & Whitney commercial and military engine production, including GTF, F135 and F100 programs; and Raytheon defense systems such as SeaRAM, SharpSight radars, missile-warning sensors, air and missile defense, advanced sensors and space-based systems.
Company updates also include earnings releases, backlog and cash-flow commentary, dividend actions, facility investments and production-capacity expansions tied to commercial aerospace and defense demand. Contract announcements and customer program awards provide recurring detail on RTX's role as a supplier to military, civil aviation and allied defense markets.
RTX's Pratt & Whitney has successfully completed a series of rotating detonation engine (RDE) tests at the RTX Technology Research Center. Following positive results, the company is increasing internal investment and collaborating with the Department of Defense to advance towards an integrated engine and vehicle ground test in upcoming years.
The RDE testing validated Pratt & Whitney's design approach under aggressive performance assumptions. Unlike traditional turbojet or turbofan engines, rotating detonation engines operate on a different thermodynamic cycle and contain no moving parts. This technology offers advantages including:
- High thermal efficiency and performance
- Compact and cost-effective design
- Additional space for fuel, sensors, and payload
- Enhanced range capabilities for defense applications
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, has announced a significant milestone as its F135 engine surpassed one million flight hours powering the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. The engine, which has been powering every F-35 since its first flight in 2006, has established itself as the safest and most reliable fighter engine in its class.
The F135 consistently exceeds 94% full mission capability rate requirements and maintains an exceptional safety record that surpasses previous fighter engine generations. The engine's global sustainment network spans 36 bases, 12 ships, and multiple depot facilities internationally, supporting 20 allied nations.
With over 1,300 F135 production engines delivered to date, Pratt & Whitney is developing an Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) to enhance performance capabilities for meeting future threats. The F135's infrastructure supports Agile Combat Employment, enabling increased survivability and combat power generation through dispersed operations.
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, has achieved a significant milestone in testing its Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS), a next-generation power and thermal management system. The system, designed to replace the F-35's current PTMS, demonstrates more than double the cooling capacity of existing solutions.
Following the 2024 announcement of EPACS achieving 80 kilowatts of cooling capacity, the system has now reached Technology Readiness Level 6. Collins has invested heavily in thermal systems development labs to validate EPACS performance across various operational conditions, positioning it for the Engineering & Manufacturing Development phase once a competition is launched.
The technology's dual-use capability makes it suitable for both military applications, including sixth-generation fighters, and commercial aircraft, addressing the increasing cooling demands of modern aviation systems.
RTX's Pratt & Whitney announced FAA type certification for its GTF Advantage engine designed for the Airbus A320neo family, with first deliveries expected in 2025. The enhanced engine delivers 4-8% more takeoff thrust, enabling higher payload and longer range for airlines.
The GTF Advantage features fully redesigned parts and technology improvements, including advanced airfoil design, improved coatings, and optimized cooling systems. The engine underwent extensive testing, completing more than twice the amount compared to current GTF engines, benefiting from over 100,000 hours of engine testing and 38 million flight hours of operation.
To date, GTF-powered aircraft have achieved up to 20% better fuel efficiency, helping airlines save over 2 billion gallons of fuel and avoid 20 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. The engine program has secured 11,000 orders and commitments across all platforms, with more than 2,200 GTF-powered aircraft delivered to over 80 customers worldwide.
RTX's Collins Aerospace has secured a contract from Boeing Defense to supply 144 ACES II® ejection seats for the U.S. Air Force's F-15EX fleet. The Advanced Concept Ejection Seat (ACES) technology has demonstrated its reliability with over 700 lives saved since 1978.
Currently, 6,000 ACES II seats are in service across 29 air forces globally, equipped in various aircraft including the U.S. Air Force's A-10, F-15, F-16, F-22, B-1, and B-2 fleets. The contract work will be executed in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Raytheon, an RTX business, has successfully completed flight testing of the first-ever AI/ML-powered Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) system for fourth-generation aircraft. The Cognitive Algorithm Deployment System (CADS) combines Embedded Graphics Processing Unit with Deepwave Digital's computing stack to integrate AI models into legacy RWR systems.
The system enables AI/ML processing at the sensor level, allowing CADS to employ cognitive methods to sense, identify, and prioritize threats with minimal latency. Initial testing was conducted on Raytheon's flight test aircraft, followed by successful demonstrations on an F-16 at the Air National Guard's test range near Tucson, Arizona in December. The tests incorporated AI/ML techniques from Georgia Tech Research Institute, Vadum, Inc., and Raytheon's cognitive electronic warfare team.
CADS procurement across multiple platforms is expected to begin in early 2025.
Raytheon, an RTX business, has secured an additional multi-million-dollar contract from the Danish Defence Armed Forces for ELCAN Specter DR dual role sights, with NSPA as the contracting authority. The Specter DR is a direct-view optic offering both close quarters and precision capabilities in a single sight, featuring instant magnification switching while maintaining constant boresight, eye relief, and sight picture.
The system enables 'both eyes open' target acquisition and will replace the existing ELCAN C79 fixed 3.4x sights. According to Mike Lewis, director and general manager at Raytheon ELCAN, the battle-proven Specter DR sight enhances soldier effectiveness on the battlefield and provides NATO allies with a competitive advantage.
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, has achieved a significant milestone with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certifying the GTF-powered Airbus A321XLR. The certification includes updates to the PW1100G-JM engine's type certificates, granted by EASA on February 7, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on December 12, 2024.
The GTF engine stands as the most fuel-efficient option for single-aisle aircraft, with the A321XLR demonstrating 30% less fuel consumption per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. Currently, 13 customers have chosen GTF engines for 217 A321XLR aircraft, with Wizz Air set to be the first operator. The GTF engine family has already been delivered to over 80 customers worldwide, powering more than 2,200 aircraft.
The upcoming GTF Advantage configuration is specifically optimized for the A321XLR, promising enhanced take-off thrust and improved operating economics.
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, has achieved a significant milestone by completing the first fully digital detailed design review of its Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) offering with the U.S. Air Force. The review was conducted through a collaborative digital environment, providing immediate access to all necessary data and materials.
Following this successful review, the company will begin procuring hardware for the XA103 prototype ground demonstrator, scheduled for testing in the late 2020s. The NGAP engine features an adaptive architecture that allows components to actively adjust for optimized fuel efficiency, survivability, and power and thermal management, offering capabilities beyond current fourth- and fifth-generation engines.
RTX's Pratt & Whitney has secured a three-year contract worth $1.5 billion to sustain F119 engines powering the U.S. Air Force's F-22 fighter jets. The contract aims to improve readiness and reduce costs for a fleet of over 400 engines that have accumulated more than 900,000 flight hours.
The F119 engines, which generate over 35,000 pounds of thrust, enable the F-22 Raptor to reach altitudes above 65,000 feet with unique capabilities including supercruise - the ability to maintain supersonic speeds without afterburners, improving fuel efficiency and operational range.
The company's Usage Based Lifing program utilizes real-time data to enhance maintenance efficiency and extend engine life. The new contract will focus on safety, availability, maintenance simplicity, and modernization initiatives.