Pratt & Whitney has received a $66-million contract to continue design efforts for the US Department of Defense’s F135 Engine Core Upgrade program.
The agreement provides additional funding for the initiative’s design engineering, program management, long lead material and hardware purchases, technology development, risk reduction, and weapons system integration.
The initial contract to modernize the engines of all F-35 Lightning II fighter jet variants was awarded to the company in December 2022.
“We’re extremely grateful for the ceaseless support we receive from the entire Connecticut delegation,” Pratt & Whitney F135 Vice President Jen Latka stated.
“We’ll use this funding to make quick progress on our Engine Core Upgrade’s preliminary design efforts, and that will keep us on track to deliver this important capability starting in 2028.”
F135 Engine for Modernized Aircraft
Pratt & Whitney signed a $5.2-billion contract in March to produce and deliver additional F135 engines for the US F-35 fleet.
The same month, the firm announced a $255-million investment to establish a sustainment facility for military aircraft engines in Oklahoma.
In June last year, the US Navy contracted the company to deliver a separate tranche of F135 engines for all F-35 variants under the service.
The US Congress revealed plans to integrate new engines into the government’s F-35 fleet in December 2021.
“A modernized F-35 needs a modernized engine to support it,” US Representative Rosa DeLauro said.
“The additional $66 million for the F135 Engine Core Upgrade we’ve secured will help us maintain a skilled workforce in Connecticut and around the country to deliver this much-needed capability.”
“Upgrading the F135 is the right decision to support our national defense priorities and defense industrial base, and I’ll continue to ensure this program gets the support and funding it needs.”