Pratt & Whitney continues to receive positive support for various F135-related programme items on the path toward finalising the 2024 appropriations bill. On July 27, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan bill that included US$497 million for the development of the F135 engine core upgrade (ECU), the DoD’s chosen F-35 engine modernisation effort; US$264 million above the President’s budget request for F135 engine spares and repair parts, a prohibition against integrating any alternate engine on any F-35 variant and a US$280 million for the development of future engine technology that could be used on sixth-generation tactical aircraft.
The F135 supports nearly 55,000 jobs across 41 states and more than 260 domestic suppliers. In March 2023, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy chose to upgrade the F135 versus replace it with an entirely new engine. The decision was announced as part of the administration’s 2024 budget proposal.
“The Senate Appropriations Committee’s full funding of the Engine Core Upgrade programme, its addition of US$280 million for future-generation propulsion technologies, and language prohibiting integration of an alternate engine on any F-35 variant are critically important,” said Jill Albertelli, President of Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney. “Our collective focus should be on maximising the performance of all three variants of the F-35, while prioritising the advancement of sixth-generation solutions that serve our highest, most urgent national defence priorities.” (£1.00 = US$1.28 at time of publication).
