Pratt & Whitney secures major F135 engine modernization and sustainment contracts

Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, has secured significant contracts to modernize and sustain the F135 engine, which powers all variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a contract worth approximately $241 million specifically for the F135 engine core upgrade. This modernization effort aims to address overheating issues and performance limitations caused by the increasing operational demands of advanced sensors and weaponry. The project, funded by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and international partners, is moving from the design phase into active development and production, with improvements expected by 2028.

In a separate but related development, Pratt & Whitney was awarded a nearly $1.3 billion indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. This funding will support F135 spare parts, deployable packages, and depot requirements for fiscal year 2026, serving both U.S. and international F-35 customers across a global network of 42 bases and 13 ships.