Pratt & Whitney, a division of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), has been awarded a major contract worth up to USD 1.3 billion to accelerate the F135 Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) project. This crucial enhancement is set to boost the durability, power, and cooling systems of the F-35 aircraft, meeting the demands of Block 4 upgrades and beyond. The upgrade will apply across all three variants of the F-35 aircraft, used by military forces around the world.
The contract represents a significant leap forward in ensuring the long-term performance and resilience of the F135 engine. The Pratt & Whitney team, consisting of over 700 engineers and program managers, will focus on refining the engine’s design, advancing aircraft integration, and preparing the supply chain for efficient production. Jill Albertelli, President of Pratt & Whitney’s Military Engines division, underscored the importance of the contract: “This is critical to continuing our positive forward momentum on this program.”
The preliminary design review for the F135 ECU was successfully completed in July, marking a pivotal milestone in the collaboration between Pratt & Whitney and the F-35 Joint Program Office. With Congress’s bipartisan support, particularly from Connecticut and Maine representatives like Senator Susan Collins and Representative Rosa DeLauro, the project has garnered political backing crucial for its continued development.
The F135 engine program is also a major economic engine, supporting over 57,000 jobs across 43 U.S. states, particularly in Connecticut and Maine. To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered more than 1,200 F135 engines, accumulating over 900,000 flight hours. The ECU upgrades will be applied to F-35s either during production or through retrofitting at global sustainment facilities, ensuring enhanced performance for the next generation of military operations.
This contract solidifies Pratt & Whitney’s role in advancing the global defense sector, enhancing the F-35’s operational capabilities, and ensuring the durability and power of these vital aircraft for years to come.
Photo from Pratt & Whitney
