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
-
![Connecting the layers: how networks can secure the future of European air defence]()
Connecting the layers: how networks can secure the future of European air defence
The rise of drones has reshaped the threat landscape for all European militaries. For industry, future defensive strategies must carefully balance a mix of passive and active measures to address the evolving danger, based around a highly integrated and responsive network of sensors and effectors.
-
![October drone digest: France and Lithuania advance loitering munition procurements as global spending surges]()
October drone digest: France and Lithuania advance loitering munition procurements as global spending surges
Recent procurement developments in France and Lithuania highlight the growing demand for loitering munitions, with global annual spending forecast to increase nearly 50-fold between 2020 and 2029.
-
![Quantum Systems details 480km/h Ukrainian interceptor as production scales up]()
Quantum Systems details 480km/h Ukrainian interceptor as production scales up
Quantum Systems’s Ukraine-made interceptor SPYS is thought to cost approximately 10 times less than Russia's jet-powered uncrewed aerial systems and is being produced at scale.
-
![UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs]()
UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs
The UK is seeking to extend the operational reach of uncrewed aerial vehicles, reflecting growing demand for compact, energy-efficient technology to support beyond-line-of-sight operations.
