ARLINGTON, Va. — RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has received a nearly $1.3 billion undefinitized contract to supply spare parts for the F135 engine, the propulsion system that powers all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.
The Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is intended to fund the initial spare parts requirements for fiscal year 2026. Managed primarily by the U.S. Department of Defense's Naval Air Systems Command, the contract action modification is valued at $1,295,745,898.
Under the agreement, Pratt & Whitney will provide deployable spare packages, depot lay-ins, and associated support equipment to support F-35 operations.
Supporting Global F-35 Operations
The contract will provide both common and depot spare parts for the F-35 global spares pool, along with country-specific spare parts for international operators.
According to the company, the contract supports the operational requirements of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy, as well as non-U.S. Department of Defense participants and international F-35 customers.
Pratt & Whitney said it has delivered more than 1,500 production F135 engines to operators across 20 allied nations. The company's global F-35 sustainment network currently provides maintenance, logistics, and technical support services for aircraft operating from 42 military bases and 13 ships worldwide.
"Ensuring the F135 remains mission-ready is critical to the success of the F-35 enterprise," said Chris Johnson, Vice President of Pratt & Whitney's F135 Program.
"This contract will help strengthen our global sustainment network to ensure operators around the world can continue to rely on the F135's unmatched performance," he added.
Work to Continue Through 2030
Work under the contract will be carried out at multiple Pratt & Whitney facilities through 2030.
The majority of the work will take place in Connecticut, including East Hartford, which will account for 59.6% of the work, and Middletown, which will account for 16.7%. Additional manufacturing and support activities will be conducted in Maine, Texas, Washington, Rhode Island, and California.
Pratt & Whitney stated that no funds will be obligated at the time of contract award. Instead, funding will be provided through individual orders issued during the life of the contract.
F135 Engine Core Upgrade
In addition to supporting current F-35 operations, Pratt & Whitney is continuing work on the F135 Engine Core Upgrade, which has been selected as the official propulsion modernization solution for the F-35 program.
The company said the upgrade will use the existing F135 sustainment network and is intended to improve fleet readiness while supporting the long-term operational requirements of F-35 operators around the world.
——— End of Article ———
