With great ceremony, Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and US government representatives completed the assembly of the first production configuration F135 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The event marks a major milestone in the F135 program, completing the first engine less than two years after the initial contract award. Pratt & Whitney will now begin testing the engine at its West Palm Beach, FL facilities under the Joint Strike Fighter System Development and Demonstration contract. First flight on the F-35 will be in 2005 with entry into service in 2008.

"This is an important day for the F135 engine team and Pratt & Whitney as a whole," said Bill Gostic, Director of F135 Engine Programs, P&W.

"It was a formidable challenge to complete this engine on budget and ahead of schedule, but the vast experience we gained in the JSF Concept Demonstration was a big help. The key to success was the outstanding dedication of everyone at Pratt & Whitney, the JSF program office and the more than 300 partners and suppliers around the world."

"This is a significant benchmark for the F135 SDD Program and for the very dedicated F135 Team," said Rob Burnes, JSF F135 Program Manager at the Joint Program Office. "This will set up an on-time First Engine To Test which is a key start to our five-year testing program."

The F135 Propulsion System Team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with overall responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce, providing the Rolls-Royce LiftFan(TM), 3 Bearing Swivel Module and Roll Posts to the STOVL (Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing) F- 35B; and Hamilton Sundstrand, provider of the F135's control system, external accessories and gearbox. The F135 is an evolution of the F119 engine powering the F/A-22 Raptor. The F135 will power all three variants of the F-35 - CTOL (Conventional Take Off/Landing), CV (Carrier Version) and STOVL, with production aircraft deliveries beginning in 2008. Among the aircraft the F-35 will replace are the AV-8B Harrier, A-10, F-16, F/A-18 and the United Kingdom's Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier.

Pratt & Whitney military engines are built and supported in facilities located in Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Oklahoma, and Texas. Models include the F119 powering the F/A-22 Raptor; the F135 for the Joint Strike Fighter; the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III; the F100 for the F-15 and F-16 fighters; the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; the TF-33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, C-141 and KC-135 aircraft; the PT6 for the T-6A, C- 12, T-34C and UH-1N aircraft; and the JT15 for the T-1A, US-35A, and the Pegasus UCAV.

FMI: www.pw.utc.com