Pratt & Whitney Unveils GTF Hot Section Plus Upgrade Option

Pratt & Whitney, a business of RTX, is introducing Hot Section Plus (HS+), an upgrade option for the PW1100G-JM engine that powers the Airbus A320neo aircraft family. HS+ will nearly double the time on wing and provides 90 to 95% of the durability benefits of the GTF Advantage engine. The upgrade includes only about 35 part numbers and will be available for purchase, with installations starting in 2026.

Pratt & Whitney, a division of RTX, has announced the introduction of Hot Section Plus (HS+), a significant upgrade for its PW1100G-JM engine, which powers the Airbus A320neo aircraft family. This enhancement, derived from the GTF Advantage technology, promises to nearly double the engine's time on wing, delivering 90 to 95% of the durability benefits of the GTF Advantage engine. The upgrade involves approximately 35 part numbers and will be available for purchase, with installations starting in 2026 [1].

HS+ features advanced high-pressure turbine airfoil design, improved coatings, and optimized cooling systems. The PW1100G-JM engine is already known for its efficiency, offering up to 20% better fuel efficiency compared to previous generations. The upgrade aims to further enhance this performance, making the engine even more attractive to airlines seeking to reduce operating costs and improve sustainability [1].

The announcement comes as Pratt & Whitney and its competitor GE Aerospace are pursuing divergent paths in developing engines for next-generation narrowbody aircraft. While GE is focusing on the development of a radically new open-fan engine under the CFM International's RISE program, Pratt & Whitney is refining its existing PW1000G geared turbofan to improve durability and thermal performance [2, 3].

Pratt & Whitney's focus on incremental innovation, using materials such as ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) and hybrid-electric options, is seen as a lower-risk approach to meeting airline demands, especially in light of current reliability concerns affecting both GTF and Leap engine models [2, 3]. The company's investment in its Asheville, North Carolina plant, featuring a future casting foundry and digital tracking, underscores its commitment to production scalability and part longevity [2].

The introduction of HS+ is part of Pratt & Whitney's broader strategy to address ongoing challenges with existing GTF units powering aircraft like the A320neo and A220, many of which are grounded due to part recalls. The upgrade program aims to enhance durability through hot-section retrofits, responding to these challenges [2].

As aircraft manufacturers prepare for program launches by the mid-2030s, engine makers are aligning their technologies to match expected performance, cost, and durability metrics. Pratt & Whitney believes its path, built on the foundation of over 300 million flight hours and reliability-focused upgrades, offers a lower-risk route to next-gen performance [2, 3].

References:
[1] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/RTX/rtx-s-pratt-whitney-announces-gtf-hot-section-i5r3t447iltp.html
[2] https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/06/12/ge-pw-chart-different-paths-for-future-jet-engines/
[3] https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/ge-aerospace-and-pratt-take-divergent-paths-toward-developing-engines-for-next-narrowbody-jets/163232.article