Pratt & Whitney has secured a $5.5-billion contract modification for F117 Engine Sustainment Support services on US Air Force and international allies’ C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.
The agreement builds on a $2.7-billion contract awarded in 2017 for maintenance and repairs of the US C-17 fleet’s F117-PW-100 turbofan engines.
Sustaining ‘Benchmark’ Propulsion
According to the company, the contract will further support the efficiency, sustainability, and airspace readiness required by the US Air Force and its allies.
The engine enhancement package under the F117 Engine Sustainment Support eliminates over 20 shop visits and saves $29 million in fuel costs per year.
Furthermore, the initiative saves 6.5 million gallons of fuel and reduces carbon emissions by approximately 140 million pounds per year.
“The global fleet of F117 engines is a benchmark for dependable, safe and reliable propulsion,” Pratt & Whitney Military Engines President Jill Albertelli stated.
“As a trusted Air Force partner, we intend to maintain the strength of this relationship and bring new benefits to the Air Force and the eight F117 international operators.”
F117 Engine Sustainment Support includes upgrades over proven and integrated technologies in other engine models.
Related hardware upgraded under the program is integrated into the C-17s upon completion of the Service Bulletin publication and all engineering changes.
F117 Engine Support in the US
For over 30 years, Pratt & Whitney has been working on the development and maintenance of US Air Force F117 engines.
The capability has powered over 17 million international flight hours on military and humanitarian missions.
Currently, the engine is certified at 40,440 pounds (18,000 kilograms) of thrust.
“One specific product improvement we are looking to incorporate under this contract is a compressor blade coating technology, which according to the Air Force Research Laboratory’s estimates, can extend time on wing by up to 16% and reduce fuel burn by over 1%,” Pratt & Whitney Fighter and Mobility Programs Vice President Chris Johnson explained.
“If we can improve durability for the Air Force while lessening impact on the environment, then that is a win-win.”