The U.S. Dept. of Defense made a $2.88-billion award to Pratt & Whitney in a modification to a prior contract for manufacturing 141 more F135 engines. Those engines are the power source for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Pratt & Whitney has produced more than 1,300 F135s since the start of F-35 program more than 20 years ago.
The F135 is an afterburning turbofan engine for the single-engine Joint Strike Fighter jets. Currently, Pratt is carrying out an Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) project to improve the propulsion system capabilities for all three variants of the F135 engine, in anticipation of the Department’s larger plan to upgrade all three F-35 aircraft models to incorporate more sensor and weapons technologies and electronic warfare capabilities.
“The F135 is ultimately an investment in mission assurance, providing the warfighters of today and tomorrow the technological edge to fight and win,” stated Pratt vice president Christopher K. Johnson. “This contract will enable our team to continue providing this critical capability to help the U.S. and its allies maintain air superiority for decades to come.”
The new engines will be installed in jets built under Lot 18 of the F-35 program, which involves 145 aircraft of all three variants, for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and for partner nations and the Pentagon’s Foreign Military Sales customers.
The contract originated in September 2023 with an initial value of $615.4 million, and it has been modified several times in the subsequent months.
Lot 18 production had been scheduled to be completed in mid-2027, with a total of 145 aircraft to be delivered, though the Pentagon now sets February 2028 for Pratt & Whitney to complete its F135 engine deliveries.
