Joanna Crews
Pratt & Whitney has provided an engine technology for an unmanned aerial refueling aircraft that an industry team led by General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business is offering to the U.S. Navy.
Both companies tested the inlet and exhaust systems of General Atomics Aeronautical System Inc.‘s MQ-25A Stingray that features the PW815 engine technology, General Atomics said Thursday.
P&W delivered its PW815 technology to a test facility on March 5 and the team completed the first powered run April 5.
David Alexander, president of aircraft systems at GA-ASI. said the company selected the engine based on fuel efficiency and performance.
“Through the superb efforts of personnel from both companies, we were able to move the test date forward by almost two months, from the originally scheduled date in late May,†Alexander added.
The partnership will evaluate data from the first trial and conduct risk reduction tests as the companies anticipate the Navy’s announcement of a MQ-25 program winner in the coming months.
