Collins Aerospace Challenges Honeywell with High-Capacity Cooling System
The F-35 Lightning II, the most advanced fighter jet built by America, has a significant problem - it runs too hot. The added sensors, jammer, and processors have thrown off more heat than the jet was designed to handle, leading to a two-company arms race worth billions.
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, recently announced that its Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) has completed altitude testing. EPACS demonstrated around 80 kW of cooling in laboratory testing in 2024, more than double the current Honeywell PTMS. This new system could provide enough headroom for future upgrades.
Honeywell, the incumbent, is fighting to keep its job with a cheaper phased upgrade that would start with software changes and increase capacity to around 40 kW within two to three years. However, this approach may not be sufficient to meet the F-35's growing cooling demands.