General Electric F118

General Electric F118. It is a non-afterburning turbofan jet engine developed from the highly successful General Electric F110 family. The engine was designed primarily for the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bomber, providing the reliable, high-thrust powerplant required for long-range missions. Its design emphasizes durability, fuel efficiency, and low infrared signature to support the aircraft's stealth characteristics.

Development and design

The development of the engine was initiated to meet the specific requirements of the Advanced Technology Bomber program, which culminated in the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. Engineers at General Electric adapted the core of the General Electric F110, an engine powering fighters like the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, by removing the afterburner and incorporating a new fan system. This modification created a high-bypass configuration optimized for subsonic cruise efficiency and reduced thermal radiation, critical for the B-2 Spirit's penetration profile. The design process involved close collaboration with Northrop Corporation and the United States Air Force to integrate the powerplants seamlessly into the bomber's airframe and weapons bay structure. Key advancements included materials to withstand extended operations and systems to minimize detectable emissions, aligning with the aircraft's overall low observable philosophy.

Operational history

The engine entered service with the United States Air Force upon the delivery of the first B-2 Spirit to Whiteman Air Force Base in the early 1990s. It has since been the exclusive powerplant for the entire B-2 fleet, supporting global power projection missions including operations during Operation Allied Force over Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The engine's reliability has been demonstrated during extremely long-duration sorties, often involving aerial refueling from aircraft like the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender. In the 2000s, a derivative of the engine was selected to re-engine the Lockheed U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Air Combat Command, replacing the original Pratt & Whitney J75 turbojet and significantly improving performance.

Variants

The primary production variant is the F118-GE-100, which powers the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. A developed model, the F118-GE-101, was created for the Lockheed U-2 modernization program, known as the U-2S. This variant features adaptations for the unique high-altitude environment encountered by the U-2, including different accessory drive systems and controls optimized for operations above 70,000 feet. While sharing the core architecture with the -100, the -101 variant is tailored to the specific demands of the Central Intelligence Agency and United States Air Force reconnaissance missions.

Specifications (F118-GE-100)

* Type: Non-afterburning turbofan * Length: Approximately 100 inches * Diameter: Approximately 46 inches * Dry weight: Approximately 3,500 pounds * Components: Axial flow fan, compressor, annular combustor, turbine * Bypass ratio: High * Thrust: 19,000 lbf (class) * Overall pressure ratio: Approximately 30:1 * Turbine inlet temperature: Classified * Specific fuel consumption: Optimized for long-range subsonic cruise * Power-to-weight ratio: High

Applications

* Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit – The sole propulsion system for this strategic bomber. * Lockheed U-2 – Specifically the U-2S and TU-2S trainer models, where the engine provides enhanced altitude performance and reliability over the original Pratt & Whitney powerplant.

Category:Aircraft engines Category:General Electric aircraft engines