GE Prepares to Assemble First Adaptive Cycle Engine for US Air Force's NGAP Programme

GE Aerospace is preparing to assemble the first XA102 adaptive cycle engine for the US Air Force's Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) programme. The company announced in September that it was procuring hardware and testing subcomponents before assembling the test engine. This marks a major milestone in the development of the XA102, which is intended for use in the Boeing F-47 fighter jet.

The XA102 is an adaptive cycle engine that can switch between high-bypass and low-bypass modes to optimize fuel efficiency and thrust. In combat mode, the engine gives maximum thrust by closing off the third stream of air; in range mode, it opens up to save fuel. The company claims this will provide greater range and thermal management capability than current engines.

The XA102 builds on GE's earlier XA100 adaptive cycle engine, which was tested from 2020 and delivered a 10% thrust increase and 25% better fuel efficiency than current fighter engines. However, the US Air Force ultimately decided against re-engining the F-35 with the XA100 in favor of upgrading the existing F135.

GE Aerospace is not alone in developing adaptive cycle engines for the NGAP programme; Pratt & Whitney is also building a rival engine, the XA103. Both engines passed critical design reviews and detailed design reviews in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and both completed Assembly Readiness Reviews in May 2026.