In the middle of 2021, GE issued an announcement stating that it had completed the preliminary test of the first full-scale demonstrator of the first XA100 three-ducted adaptive engine.

GE stated that compared with the most advanced fighter engine in 2015, the XA100 performed unexpectedly well, far exceeding the original target of "increasing thrust and fuel efficiency by 10% and 25%, respectively."

In December 2021, GE's second XA100 engine has completed the first phase of testing, and the second phase of testing will be conducted in the first quarter of 2022.

At the same time, Pratt & Whitney also plans to test the first XA101 engine demonstrator in the next few months.

The U.S. Air Force stated that it will conduct a one-year test of the XA100 and XA101 engines from 2022. According to the plan, the U.S. Air Force will replac all F-35A fighters with variable-cycle engines from 2027.