Honeywell Boosts F-35 Cooling Capacity by 25% with New Upgrade

Honeywell Aerospace has introduced an upgrade to the F-35's power and thermal management system (PTMS) that boosts cooling capacity by 25% without requiring changes to the aircraft's structure.

The P40 upgrade, which is expected to be fielded between 2029 and 2030, raises the system's cooling capacity from approximately 32 to 40 kilowatts through software changes and targeted improvements to its liquid-cooling equipment.

Honeywell designed P40 to work within the existing PTMS architecture, allowing operators to install the upgrade alongside the F-35's planned Engine Core Upgrade. This means that operators can add cooling capacity during scheduled maintenance without making separate airframe modifications.