Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a contract worth up to US$1.3 billion to continue work on the F135 engine core upgrade (ECU), which aims to enhance engine durability. The ECU will also provide additional power and cooling capabilities for Block 4 and future upgrades across all three variants of the F-35 global fleet.
“This contract is critical to continuing our positive forward momentum on this programme,” 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 mobilising the supply base to prepare for production.”
In July, Pratt & Whitney announced the completion of the F135 ECU’s preliminary design review, signifying alignment between Pratt & Whitney and the F-35 Joint Program Office on the upgrade’s design. Today, more than 700 engineers and programme managers are working full-time on the project.
The F135 programme is a major contributor to economic growth in the states of Connecticut, Maine and beyond, supporting over 57,000 jobs across 43 states.
To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered more than 1,200 F135 production engines, with over 900,000 engine flight hours recorded. The F135 ECU will be incorporated into F-35s during production or retrofitted at one of several F135 depot sustainment facilities worldwide and will be available to all F-35 operators.
