An entry in the July 12 Daily Report confused the Air Force’s Advanced Engine Technology Program and Pratt & Whitney’s own F135 engine improvement program. Pratt’s Block 1 upgrade is expected to deliver a 7-10 percent increase in efficiency over the existing F135, while Block 2, building on Block 1 and incorporating technology from the AETP, will up the efficiency to a total 25 percent better fuel burn over the existing F135. We have corrected the original entry.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.