This news is classified in: Defense Contracts Engines / Power / Fuel Military Aircraft
Oct 1, 2024
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has been awarded a contract valued up to $1.3 billion to continue work on the F135 Engine Core Upgrade (ECU), which will deliver enhanced durability to the engine. The ECU also provides power and cooling for Block 4 and beyond capabilities for all three variants of the F-35 global enterprise.
"This contract is critical to continuing our positive forward momentum on this program," said Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney's Military Engines business. "It allows us to continue work in the risk reduction phase with a fully staffed team focused on design maturation, aircraft integration, and mobilizing the supply base to prepare for production."
In July, Pratt & Whitney announced it had completed the F135 ECU's preliminary design review which signified the alignment between Pratt & Whitney and the F-35 Joint Program Office on the upgrade's design. Today, more than 700 engineers and program managers are working full-time on the program.
by Product (Alkaline Fuel Cells, Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells), Application (Aerospace, Military)
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The F135 program is a major driver of economic growth in the states of Connecticut, Maine, and around the country; supporting more than 57,000 jobs across 43 states.
To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered more than 1,200 F135 production engines, with more than 900,000 engine flight hours recorded. The F135 ECU will be incorporated into F-35s at the point of production or retrofitted at one of the multiple F135 depot sustainment facilities around the world and will be available to all F-35 operators.