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PW awarded lucrative F135 engines contract |
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Monday, 27 October 2008 |
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Pratt & Whitney has won a production contract to power the F-35 Lightning II.
Aero-engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (PW) has been awarded a $78 million (£51 million) production contract to build F135 engines for Lockheed Martin's next-generation F-35 Lightning II multirole jet fighter.
The low-rate initial production contract provides for seven conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) and seven short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35 engines.
Chris Flynn, director of PW's F135 engine programme, explained that the award is the latest in a series of milestones for the project; including 10,000 hours of ground testing; 59 successful flight tests and more than 75 flight test hours in CTOL F-35 aircraft.
The F135 STOVL propulsion system has also powered 14 F-35B flights to date.
"This contract allows Pratt & Whitney to acquire and produce F135 engine parts to support our customers and meet the F-35 production and delivery schedule," Mr Flynn added.
With more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built, according to PW. It features technology evolved from the F119 engine, which successfully powers the F-22 Raptor.
In related company news, PW Canada announced last week that it will invest over $360 million (£235 million) in research and development over the next three years. |
