Pratt & Whitney granted $1.3 billion for F135 core upgrade
Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine, pictured during accelerated mission testing at AEDC in the Engine Test Facility’s sea level 2 test cell. (Photo: US Air Force)
The contract award followed on from the preliminary design review of the F135 Engine Core Upgrade in July 2024. Work on the upgrade will be expected to be completed by March 2028.
Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a reported US$1.3 billion contract by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to continue its work on the F135 Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme.
In July 2024, the engine manufacturer completed its F135 ECU preliminary design review. According to Pratt & Whitney, the upgrade would deliver enhanced durability to the F135 engine and is the only ‘drop-in’ propulsion modernisation solution available to F-35 aircraft. It would provide power and cooling for Block 4 capabilities and beyond, and would be retrofittable on all three F-35 variants.
“This contract is critical to continuing our positive forward momentum on this programme,” said Jill Albertelli, president – military engines at Pratt & Whitney. “It allows us to continue work in the risk reduction phase with a fully staffed team focused on design maturation, aircraft integration, and mobilising the supply base to prepare for production.”
The US Department of Defence disclosed that the $1.3 billion contract would provide for design, analysis, rig testing, engine test preparation, air worthiness evaluation and product support planning for the ECU. Work would be performed across the US, but largely concentrated in Connecticut.
The F135 ECU is planned to incorporate into F-35s at the point of production or be retrofitted at one of multiple F135 depot facilities around the world, Pratt & Whitney claimed.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Transponders and IFF | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance]()
Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance
New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.
-
![Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training]()
Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training
In Conversation... Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to CAE's Marc-Olivier Sabourin about how the training and simulation industry can help militaries achieve essential levels of readiness by leveraging new technology, innovative procurement methods and a truly collaborative approach.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry]()
Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry
As European countries increase their defence budgets, the Paris Air Show will look to how the aerospace industry’s responds, with programme progression, new technology and industrial partnerships all expected to take centre stage at Le Bourget.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution
The solution, named HTeaming, has already been tested in flight with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and an Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
