RTX-owned Pratt & Whitney has secured an estimated $1.6-billion US Navy contract to provide sustainment and technical support for the F135 engines that power the F-35 Lightning II fighter fleet. The package includes ongoing maintenance services, program management, propulsion system integration, spare part replenishment, and updates to Joint Technical Data, covering both unit-level and depot-level requirements.
The deal also incorporates training initiatives to equip personnel and operators with the skills needed to maintain and support the full F-35 propulsion suite.
A significant portion of the work—about 40 percent—will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut, with additional contributions coming from facilities in Oklahoma, Indiana, and Florida. International workshare locations include Norway, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The entire effort is expected to be completed by November 2026.
Renowned for its development of the F135 engine, Pratt & Whitney also produces powerplants for platforms such as the F-15 Eagle, C-17 Globemaster III, and multiple US military helicopters. Beyond these programs, the company is developing a new propulsion system for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative, which teams autonomous drones with manned fighters, and is simultaneously progressing on the XA103 adaptive engine using advanced digital engineering tools.
