Advanced Engine Development

The Advanced Engine Development (AED) Program is a key line item within the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, specifically under Budget Activity 4: Advanced Component Development & Prototypes (ACD&P). The primary goal of this program is to develop and evaluate advanced propulsion system components and prototypes in realistic environments, supporting both current and future Air Force platforms. The AED program is managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Propulsion Directorate, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The program's objectives include maturing propulsion system architectures, designs, enabling materials, and manufacturing processes to reduce risk and ensure readiness for subsequent engineering, manufacturing, and integration efforts.

Within the AED Program, the Advanced Engine Technologies project received a Congressional Add in FY 2024. This project focuses on expanding the industrial base's knowledge and skills to enable future advanced propulsion system architectures, including the inlet, engine, and nozzle. Key objectives include improving manufacturing producibility, affordability, and quality, as well as mitigating risks throughout the development process. The project also aims to mature alloys, coatings, and composites through extensive trials and component testing, ensuring these materials meet the requirements of next-generation engine components.

The Advanced Engine Technologies project further seeks to enhance digital design and inspection capabilities. Specific goals include developing Model Based Inspection techniques and increasing digital collaboration between government and industry partners. This digital approach is intended to expand capability and capacity for future applications, supporting the transition to Model Based Systems Engineering and integrating lessons learned into advanced combat engine model development. The acquisition strategy leverages existing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) contracts and Other Transactional Authority (OTA) agreements to maximize efficiency and flexibility in executing these efforts.

For FY 2024, the Advanced Engine Technologies project awarded contracts and initiated Adaptive Cycle Engine Technology efforts, with requests for proposals prepared for the remaining activities. No additional funding was requested for FY 2025, but the project continued to execute the Congressional Add from FY 2024, focusing on manufacturing techniques, process improvements, novel materials, and digital design enhancements. The period of performance for these contracts spans from late 2024 through mid-2026, aligning with the program's schedule for maturing and validating advanced engine technologies.

The Advanced Engine Development project received a Congressional Add in FY 2025. This project encompasses all efforts necessary to develop and evaluate advanced propulsion system architectures, designs, enabling materials, and manufacturing processes across all thrust classes. It also includes the evaluation of modifications to commercial and military off-the-shelf propulsion systems for use in both current and future aircraft and munitions. Prototyping and assessments are conducted at sea-level and simulated altitudes, with durability testing across multiple power settings to validate system performance and calibrate engineering models.

The objectives of the Advanced Engine Development project are to advance propulsion technologies from Advanced Technology Development (ATD) into Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) when appropriate. Some technologies may transition directly from ATD to EMD, depending on their maturity and readiness. The acquisition strategy mirrors that of the Advanced Engine Technologies project, utilizing FAR-based contracts and OTA agreements to efficiently manage and execute the program. The spend plan for the FY 2025 Congressional Add is being coordinated to ensure alignment with program objectives and Congressional intent.

A significant change in the AED Program occurred in FY 2024, when the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program was transferred out of this program element to its own budget line, as directed by the Defense Appropriations Bill and Joint Explanatory Statement. This realignment ensures focused management and funding for NGAP, while the AED Program continues to support the maturation and risk reduction of advanced engine technologies for future Air Force platforms. The AED Program is critical for sustaining and advancing the Air Force's propulsion capabilities, enabling improved performance, reliability, and affordability in both legacy and next-generation aircraft systems.