Mon, Oct 27, 2008
Long Lead Production Deal Includes 14 Engines
Pratt & Whitney was recently awarded a $78 million
production contract for F135 engines, powering the F-35 Lightning
II. This low rate initial production (LRIP) contract covers F135
long lead material for seven conventional take-off and landing
(CTOL) and seven short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35
aircraft.
"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," said Chris Flynn, director,
Pratt & Whitney F135 engine programs.
This award is one in a series of milestones for the F135 engine
program, including exceeding 10,000 ground test hours as part of
the system development and demonstration program; logging 59
successful flight tests and more than 75 flight test hours of the
F135-powered CTOL F-35 aircraft; and completing 14 flights of the
F-35B powered by Pratt & Whitney's F135 STOVL propulsion
system.
Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most
powerful fighter engine ever built. The technologically advanced
F135 is an evolution of the F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor.
By the time the F-35 enters operation, the F119 engines will
have logged more than 480,000 flight hours. In addition, the F135
will have logged 16,000 flight hours and more than 17,000 ground
test hours. This ground and flight test experience will confirm the
maturity and the associated reliability of the F135 engine for
armed forces around the world.
The F135 STOVL propulsion system team consists of Pratt &
Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main
engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom,
which provides lift components for the STOVL F-35B; and United
Technologies Corp.'s Hamilton Sundstrand unit, provider of the
engine control system and gearbox.
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