Raytheon subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has received a $115 million contract from the US Department of Defense to support its F135 engine enhancement program.
Under the agreement, the company will conduct propulsion upgrades of all F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft variants in the US military.
Preliminary development for the program will run until 2023.
F-35 Engine Core Upgrade
The effort involves a cost-effective solution with no disruptive changes such as added weight to aircraft, production schedule delays, or other technical issues.
The upgrade is the fastest approach to the Block 4 capability modernization for existing F-35s internationally.
“Upgrades like this are a normal part of any major defense program and the F135 engine has been pushed beyond its original specifications for too long,” Pratt & Whitney Military Engines President Jill Albertelli explained.
“The F-35 engine core upgrade saves taxpayers $40 billion in lifecycle costs and builds upon a combat-tested engine architecture that has more than one million flight hours.”
Sustaining Economic Growth in Connecticut
According to Pratt & Whitney, the program is a primary driver of economic growth in Connecticut, in which nearly half of the work will take place.
The initiative supports more than 53,000 jobs across the country, with 27,000 workforce and 100 supplier positions in the state alone.
“The recent announcement will protect good paying union jobs in Connecticut, while providing a much-needed charge to our economy,” US House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro said.
“Pratt & Whitney employs more than 11,000 people in East Hartford and Middletown and is a core component of our state’s economy.”
“I was proud to fight for this investment in F135 modernization, and you have my word that I will always fight to keep these jobs in Connecticut.”
