Collins Aerospace completes altitude testing of EPACS
Collins Aerospace's EPACS. Although intended for the F-35, the technologies developed have broader application. (Collins Aerospace)
Collins Aerospace announced the completion of altitude testing of its Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) Power and Thermal Management System (PTMS), on 24 August 2026.
EPACS is designed to enhance the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II's power and thermal management capabilities by increasing cooling capacity.
“Altitude testing validates system performance in real-world flight conditions,” Ira Grimmett, vice president for Environmental & Airframe Control Systems for Power & Controls at Collins Aerospace said in a company statement.
Grimmett added that “completing this phase of testing advances EPACS maturity and reinforces confidence in the system's capability and performance”.
The company said that the PTMS system was “run for several days at power levels replicating mission requirements” and “pushed to operational limits in various altitudes to collect performance data and demonstrate that EPACS can deliver the emergency power expected during operation”.
The news comes after EPACS demonstrated 80 kW of cooling capacity in 2024, more than double the amount the current PTMS for the F-35 is capable of. Collins Aerospace previously announced EPACS had met requirements for aircraft integration in 2025.
For more, please see: Collins Aerospace F-35 EPACS achieves Technology Readiness Level 6
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