Pratt & Whitney Secures $2.9 Billion Defense Contract for F135 Engine Production
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Pratt & Whitney a significant contract modification worth approximately $2.9 billion for the continued production of F135 engines, which are integral to the F-35 fighter jet program. This funding, announced on the department’s website, highlights the company’s pivotal role in manufacturing advanced propulsion systems.
Approximately 30% of this production will take place in Connecticut, primarily within Pratt & Whitney’s facilities located in East Hartford and Middletown. The contract outlines the production and delivery of 141 F135 propulsion systems, which will support the Lot 18 production run of F-35 aircraft for various branches of the U.S. military, as well as international partners and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.
Beyond Connecticut, the remaining tasks will be distributed across multiple states, including California, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. Additionally, some work will occur at sites outside the continental United States. The completion of this project is anticipated by February 2028.
This recent contract follows previous modifications, such as a $115 million agreement announced earlier this year on August 1. In the past year, Pratt & Whitney has also secured substantial contracts for F135 upgrades valued at up to $1.3 billion and a $1.5 billion contract for F119 engine work, which powers the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 fighter jets.
Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engines are crucial for the three variants of the F-35 Lightning II, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, which is also known for its Stratford-based helicopter manufacturer, Sikorsky.
Earlier this year, the company’s production of F135 engines, along with GTF models for commercial aircraft, faced disruptions due to a three-week strike by approximately 3,000 machinists in Connecticut. The strike ended with a new four-year contract approved on May 27.
Christopher Calio, CEO and chairman of RTX, Pratt & Whitney’s parent company, noted at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference on May 28, “That’s something we’re going to have to recover throughout the balance of the year. There will be a cash impact here in the second quarter as a result. I think break-even to negative cash flow in the quarter, but again, recoverable in the year. We’re going to continue to get our people back, ramped up, get our engines back out the door.”
Pratt & Whitney remains a major employer in Connecticut, with roughly 10,800 employees across its East Hartford and Middletown facilities.
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