Japan Is Considering Selling Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 Turbofan Engines to Indonesia
Whether related or not, the visit of KSAU Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo to the Headquarters and the Japan Air Force Self Defense Force (JASDF) in early June 2023, 'raised' news from the Japanese national media, namely that there were considerations from Japan to exported Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan engines to Indonesia.
Quoted from Japannews.yomiuri.co.jp (18/6/2023), an internal source from the Japanese government revealed that there was consideration for selling Pratt & Whitney (PW) F100-PW-220 turbofan engines to Indonesia.
The PW F100-PW-220 is a turbofan jet engine which has been the engine for the Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle fighter jet.
Because there are preparations to gradually retire the F-15J, the Japanese government is considering selling the machine to Indonesia.
Which, the PW F100-PW-220 is also used as an engine on the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, demand for machine exports is said to come from Indonesia itself.
In March 2021, the governments of Japan and Indonesia signed an agreement relating to the transfer of defense equipment and technology, paving the way for this potential transfer.
The special engine of the F-15 aircraft is being considered for installation on Indonesian F-16 fighter jets.
This is based on the fact that there are similarities between the engines of the F-15 and F-16 aircraft, allowing Tokyo to respond to Jakarta's specific requests.
It is important to note that the operational guidelines of Japan's three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology currently impose restrictions on the transfer of defense equipment abroad.
However, spare parts are not currently within the scope of those guidelines.
In the past, the export of parts was permitted in cases of international co-building with the United States.
Therefore, the potential export of these machines to Indonesia can prompt discussions about the need to revise the guidelines to facilitate the active export of various equipment, including spare parts.
On May 9, 2023, Hiroshi Ide, president of IHI Corporation, told reporters that around 200 Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engines installed on Mitsubishi F-15J fighter jets should be 'thrown out' when they are retired.
Japan has 200 F-15s in operation and half of them were not upgraded to the Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MSIP), which allows the fighter to have support for firing newer air-to-air missiles.
That way, the F-15J will later be decommissioned from Japanese Air Force service and replaced by the F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jet.
Hiroshi Ide said his company had held talks with the ruling party about getting rid of the fighter jet's engines. One way is by exporting these machines to other countries.
Indonesia signed a contract in January 2012 for the procurement of 24 ex-USAF F-16C/D Block 52ID fighter jets. The jet uses the same Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan engine used on the F-15 Eagle.
The service life of the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan engine may vary depending on factors such as use, proper maintenance and operating conditions.
Under normal operating conditions and with proper care, this engine can achieve a service life of between 4,000 and 8,000 flight hours before requiring major maintenance and updates.
Following are some general capabilities of the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220;
Thrust
The F100-PW-220 engine can generate thrust of up to about 29,000 to 30,000 pounds, or about 129 to 133 kilonewtons (kN).
However, actual thrust may vary depending on operational conditions, such as outside air temperature and altitude.
Afterburner
The F100-PW-220 is equipped with an afterburner, which is a thrust enhancement system used in certain situations, such as during takeoff, high maneuvers, or supersonic speeds.
The afterburner allows the engine to generate additional thrust by taking advantage of the more intensive burning of fuel behind the turbine.
Dual Use
The F100-PW-220 can be used as a single engine or in a dual engine configuration on the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.
In a twin engine configuration, each engine provides its own thrust, giving the aircraft significant power for maneuverability and high performance.
Fuel Efficiency
This engine is designed to provide a good level of fuel efficiency, which is essential for optimal range and flight time of a fighter aircraft.