The 2 bulletins spotlight RTX’s parallel work on each air-breathing and strong rocket propulsion applied sciences by way of its companies.
RTX made two propulsion bulletins on Sept. 24, 2025, highlighting the corporate’s involvement in each air-breathing and rocket applied sciences by way of its companies. Pratt & Whitney revealed that it has accomplished vital exams 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 exams on its household of small turbofan engines, that are meant 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 might 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,” mentioned Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney’s Army Engines enterprise. “Which means we are able to ship elevated efficiency from these manufacturing engines. Finally, this can enable for lowered price and weight for a number of purposes.”
With CCAs meant to offer 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 exams monitoring inlet airflow and stress variations for engines embedded inside the plane. As efficiency may be impacted if airflow to the engine is interrupted or blocked, the exams 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 exams, 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 enlargement of its collaboration with Avio USA to develop 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 value as much as $26 million will fund continued engineering work by way of the Crucial Design Overview (CDR) part, procurement of long-lead supplies, and preparations for full qualification.
The Mk 104 motor is a core element of Raytheon’s Commonplace Missile franchise, utilized by the U.S. Navy and allied fleets worldwide. Guaranteeing dependable and scalable manufacturing of the motor is subsequently 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,” mentioned Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Energy at Raytheon. “By strategically implementing second sourcing for vital supplies, we’re not solely enhancing our skill to satisfy buyer demand but in addition strengthening our manufacturing capability for the Commonplace Missile franchise.”
Avio USA, supported by Italian mother or father firm Avio SpA, is contributing experience in SRM engineering, materials characterization, laboratory and hearth testing, and integration, in line with Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio SpA. “We’re proud to proceed our work on Mk 104, which is so vital to the US and our allies,” mentioned VADM (Ret.) James Syring, CEO of Avio USA.
In accordance with 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 mentioned to the publication that the manufacture would begin inside 18 months to qualify as a second supply.
