Pratt & Whitney Awarded $54 Million Contract to Resolve F135 Engine Issues
RTX Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney has received a $54 million U.S. Navy order to perform non-recurring engineering work on the F135 engine, which powers all variants of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter. The fixed-price incentive contract, managed by Naval Air Systems Command, aims to identify and correct operational issues, extend engine life, and reduce lifecycle costs. The F135 has faced sustainment problems, including an undersized cooling system and turbine blade wear, which the Government Accountability Office estimates will add $38 billion in unplanned maintenance costs. Work will be performed across seven locations, with 74% at Pratt & Whitney's East Hartford headquarters. The funding is split between U.S. Fiscal Year 2026 R&D funds ($14 million) and contributions from F-35 Cooperative Program Partners ($22.3 million), highlighting allied nations' direct financial role in ongoing engine support. The contract is expected to be completed by December 2028.
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