Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp, has announced that it has been awarded a production contract for the 12th and 13th lots of F135 propulsion systems, powering all three variants of the F-35 aircraft.
This award represents the largest-ever F135 production contract, funding more than 332 engines for the US armed services and international customers, and includes programme management, engineering support, production support, and tooling.
The total contract value for Lot 12-14 is approximately $5.7 billion and it covers all Lot 12 and Lot 13 engines, with priced options for Lot 14.
“This is a significant milestone for the program and underscores the hard work of our joint government and industry team,” said Matthew Bromberg, president of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines in a news release.
“With more than 500 F135 engines delivered to date, we’re at an exciting inflection point for the program. We are laser-focused on standing up an effective global sustainment network that will support the F135 throughout its lifecycle,” Bromberg said.
The firm say that the F135 is the most advanced fighter engine ever produced, delivering more than 40,000 lbs. of thrust and unmatched advances in safety.
I can imagine those engineers and manager who were working on the GE/RR alternate engine for the F35 (F136 engine) before it was cancelled by the US Congress are thinking what could have been. PW were so concerned that the F136 was going to be a valid competitor and on budget they demanded that the completed engines be handed over to the D of D and that the USAF issue a stop work order to prevent GE/RR from continuing even as it was self funded by the companies. At the time PW was a billion $ over budget on development… Read more »
Similar to when the French pulled out of Eurofighter, demanding French Engines be used!
Sweden and Italy have a lot to bring to Tempest. If the power plant is as successful as the EJ200, then combined with its Marine MT30 Demands, the future of RR Aero is looking bright…
What has this got to do with the special relationship? Does not General Electric come into this somewhere?
“The firm says that the F135 is the most advanced fighter engine ever produced, delivering more than 40,000 lbs. of thrust and unmatched advances in safety.”
Let’s see what RR and its partners develop for Tempest!
Isn’t the Tempest supposed to have 2 engines? If so I doubt each engine will be anywhere near 40k lbs of thrust. But will probably have a few more advanced things in it since it will be developed 20+ years later than the F135 was.