Pratt & Whitney is planning further development of rotating detonation engine (RDE) technology following “positive test results” from a series of ground tests.
The service said it decided to pause deliveries on Feb. 27 after identifying cracks in the “outboard fixed-trailing-edge support structure” of two aircraft.
Internal testing validated that the Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) is mature enough now to enter an engineering and manufacturing development phase.