Pratt & Whitney Secures Nearly $2.9 Billion for F-35 Lot 18 Engine Production

On August 22, 2025, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, was awarded a not-to-exceed $2.9 billion contract modification by the U.S. Department of Defense to produce and deliver 141 F135 propulsion systems for Lot 18 of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

The award, managed by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland, includes fixed-price-incentive and cost-plus-incentive-fee provisions and is scheduled for completion by February 2028.

Scope and Industrial Footprint

The deal covers propulsion systems for all three F-35 variants: the F-35A (conventional take-off), F-35C (carrier-based), and F-35B (short take-off and vertical landing). Alongside the engines, the contract includes spare units, tooling, engineering services, and program support, ensuring sustained readiness of U.S. and allied fleets worldwide.

Production will be distributed across multiple U.S. states and international sites, with 30% of the work in Connecticut, where Pratt & Whitney has major operations. Other significant contributions will come from Indiana, Maine, California, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia, and additional locations.

The contract funding involves contributions from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, international partners, and Foreign Military Sales customers.

Engine Capabilities and Strategic Importance

The F135 engine is the sole powerplant of the F-35. Adapted from the F-22 Raptor’s F119, it delivers around 28,000 pounds of thrust in dry mode and up to 43,000 pounds with afterburner. Designed for survivability in contested airspace, the engine integrates stealth features such as radar-absorbent coatings and a low-observable sawtooth exhaust nozzle.

For the F-35B, Pratt & Whitney developed the LiftSystem in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, featuring a vertical lift fan, swiveling exhaust nozzle, and roll ducts, which provide unique short take-off and vertical landing capability.

Its modular architecture and advanced diagnostics also simplify maintenance, helping fleets stay combat-ready with reduced downtime.

Economic and Global Impact

The F135 program supports more than 67,000 U.S. jobs across a supply chain of over 240 companies, contributing an estimated $9.1 billion to the U.S. economy in 2024.

Over 1,300 F135 engines have already been delivered, powering F-35 fleets in more than 20 allied nations. The new Lot 18 contract further strengthens the U.S. and its partners’ airpower advantage.

Future Upgrades and Modernization

Beyond production, the Pentagon is investing in the Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) program, which will enhance thrust, fuel efficiency, and thermal management to support advanced F-35 systems. This upgrade is expected to deliver significant lifecycle savings, potentially exceeding $40 billion globally.

Pratt & Whitney is also advancing the Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) to meet the growing demand for onboard electronics and sensors in future Block 4 F-35s.

The nearly $2.9 billion Lot 18 award underscores the F-35’s continued reliance on the F135 engine as a foundation of U.S. and allied air dominance. It ensures stable production into 2028, secures thousands of jobs across the U.S., and prepares the Joint Strike Fighter fleet for the next generation of high-intensity operations.