RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a $1.3-billion contract to continue maturing the F135 Engine Core Upgrade.
The contract includes ”design, analysis, rig testing, engine test preparation, developmental hardware, test asset assembly, air system integration, airworthiness evaluation, and product support planning,” a Department of Defense contract notice stated.
Work is expected to be completed in March 2028.
“We are fortunate to have bipartisan and bicameral support from our congressional advocates, especially the Connecticut and Maine delegations led by senior appropriators Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Rosa DeLauro,” senior vice president of RTX Global Government Relations Jeff Shockey said.
“Their steadfast commitment to the F135 ensures it will deliver critical capabilities for decades to come.”
F135 Engine Core Upgrade
Pratt & Whitney earlier completed the power plant’s preliminary design review in July, affirming that the upgrade is on track.
The upgrade will increase the engine’s durability and improve the aircraft’s performance, including thrust and fuel efficiency.
It will also resolve the engine’s long standing cooling issue, resulting in the engine running hotter and a reduced service life.
The cooling requirement is expected to increase further after a slew of capabilities have been incorporated into the aircraft under the Block 4 upgrades.
Upgraded Engine to Be Integrated and Retrofitted
The F135 powers all three F-35 variants fielded by the US Air Force, Marines, and Navy.
Over 1,200 production F135s have been delivered, clocking more than 900,000 engine flight hours.
The upgraded F135 will be integrated with F-35s at the point of production or retrofitted at one of multiple F135 depot sustainment facilities around the world.