Pratt & Whitney Signs Agreement with Australian Supplier Broens Industries for Additional F135 Engine Work

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW - Pratt & Whitney has awarded Broens Industries a follow on purchase order to manufacture complex support equipment for the sustainment solution of the F135 propulsion system powering the F-35 Lightning II. This new order valued at approximately $300,000 is for units which will be utilized at the first operational and training bases in the U.S.

Pratt & Whitney previously awarded Broens Industries a purchase order to develop and prototype complex support equipment specifically for removing and installing the F135 engine gearbox. This new order initiates the production phase of the project, with a potential value estimated at more than $7 million.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney press release. 

Paul Adams Inducted Into Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering

Paul Adams, Pratt & Whitney’s senior vice president of Operations & Engineering, was recently inducted into the distinguished Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering (CASE) for his outstanding contributions to jet propulsion technology.

Adams was recognized for his technical leadership in the engineering development and production of game-changing technological products such as Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower® Geared Turbofan™ (GTF) engine and the F135 engine that powers the F-35 Lightning II.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney's press release. 

Coverage:

• CASE honors Pratt engine-designer Paul Adams (Hartford Business Journal)

Hess: ‘It's a Transformational Period in Our Core Engine Businesses'

Video Credit: Royal Aeronautical Society, via YouTube

Pratt & Whitney President David Hess was the guest of honor at the Royal Aeronautical Society's annual banquet in London on May 16. The event typically draws 400 to 500 guests from all sectors of aerospace and aligns with the society's mission of advancing aeronautical art, science and engineering around the world.

While in London, Hess was interviewed by Tim Robinson of the Royal Aeronautical Society. In the 23-minute interview, Hess fielded general questions about Pratt & Whitney's business and provided an update on the development of the PurePower engine. The interview also covered the company's aftermarket business, focus areas – performance, cost reduction – on the F135 engine program, the history of the geared turbofan concept and step changes in engine efficiency over time.

Speaking in his role as chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association, Hess also described the biggest challenge – budget sequestration – facing the aerospace and defense industry in the United States.

Pratt & Whitney Delivers 50th F135 Engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

Pratt & Whitney has successfully delivered the 50th production F135 engine – powering Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II – to the U.S. Department of Defense.

The 50th engine is scheduled to be installed in a F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) for the United States Navy. The F-35C aircraft will be delivered to Eglin Air Force Base for Navy pilot training.

Pratt & Whitney remains committed to increasing production levels while decreasing costs. To date, Pratt & Whitney and its suppliers have been able to reduce the cost by more than 25 percent on the CV/Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) engine, compared to the original test engines. Engine production output in 2012 is expected to double from 2011, as was demonstrated from 2010 to 2011.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney's press release.

Related Coverage:

•  Pratt & Whitney Bets Big Profits Loom, If F-35 Stays Healthy (AOL Defense)

Lieberman: 'I'm Going To Fight To Keep That Eagle Flying High and Strong'

U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman visited Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Conn., this week. Company leaders, including P&W President Dave Hess, took time to thank the senator for his support throughout his four terms in the U.S. Senate. Lieberman has supported the Pratt & Whitney-powered F-22 Raptor, C-17 Globemaster III, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the selection of Boeing and Pratt & Whitney for the Air Force aerial tanker contract.

Lieberman offered his ongoing support with some encouraging words for the employees gathered in the P&W Museum:

" ... As hard as we fight, and as much as we've learned about how to fight successfully in Congress, we wouldn't be successful unless you here at Pratt & Whitney turned out the best damn jet engines in the world."

" ... I'm going to continue fighting for Connecticut and for Pratt & Whitney right until that last day next January. And I'm going to fight to keep that eagle flying high and strong because I know that when the eagle flies high and strong, America is well protected. And I know that that eagle has under his great wings thousands of jobs for thousands of great workers and managers here in Connecticut."

Coverage:

• Pratt Rally Is Going-Away Party For Lieberman (Hartford Courant)
• Pratt & Whitney Employees, Thankful But Anxious About F-35 Sales, Hail Lieberman (Hartford Courant)
  

F135 Exceeds 20,000 Total Engine Hours

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW, Feb. 14, 2012 – Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine – exclusively powering Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II – exceeded 20,000 total engine hours while powering the fleet of F-35 flight test aircraft, including 17,700 ground test hours and 2,500 flight test hours. This marks yet another milestone for Pratt & Whitney and its partners.

The F-35 includes three variants to meet the unique needs of the U.S. armed forces as well as the international participants in the program – the Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL), the Carrier Variant (CV) and the Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL). To date, the F135 propulsion system has completed more than 1,600 flight tests producing more than 2,500 flight hours and nearly 300 vertical landings. The successes of the F135 engine program validate the reliability, safety and performance of the engine.

View the Pratt & Whitney press release.

Coverage:

• Pratt & Whitney Boosted By Big Year For JSF Engines (Aviation International News)
  

Sixth Lot of F135 Engines 'Powers The World'

The Connecticut Business News Journal recently reported on Pratt & Whitney's recent $194.1 million contract award for F135 engines. The contract - the first production contract to include two of our key international partners and customers - covers long-lead materials for the sixth lot of F135 engines.

The sixth lot calls for 37 install engines, including 18 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) engines for the U.S. Air Force; seven carrier variant (CV) engines for the U.S. Navy; six short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems for the U.S. Marine Corps; four CTOL engines for the Italian Air Force; and two CTOL engines for The Royal Australian Air Force. The main engines deliveries in LRIP 6 are slated to begin in June 2013.

The headline? "P&W Powers The World" - we love it!

Coverage:

• P&W Powers The World (Connecticut Business News Journal)

F-35 Performs First Night Flight

Video Credit: Lockheed Martin

This video from Lockheed Martin shows the first night flight in the history of the F-35 Program. (The flight was completed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.) Watch this clip and see the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine at work!

Coverage:

• F-35 performs first night flight (Flight International)
• Night flights commence for F-35 (Marine Corps Times)
• Stunning Pictures Of The F-35's First Night Flight (Business Insider)
• F-35 Conducts First Night Flight As Tests Continue (Ottawa Citizen)
  

Lockheed Martin: F-35 Program Exceeds 2011 Flight Test Goals

Lockheed Martin announced this week that the F-35 flight test program exceeded its goals for 2011. The System Development and Demonstration program flew 972 flights and verified 7,823 test points, against a plan of 872 flights and 6,622 test points.

The F-35 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.

Click here to read the Lockheed Martin press release.

Coverage:

• Lockheed touts F-35 milestones (The Hill)
  

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Two Marine Corps F-35s to Eglin

[Video credit: Lockheed Martin, via YouTube]

Lockheed Martin reports that the first two production model F-35B short takeoff / vertical landing aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps on Jan. 11. The aircraft - BF-6 and BF-8 - arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., after ferry flights from Fort Worth, Texas.

The F-35 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.

Click here to read the Lockheed Martin press release.

Coverage:

• Lockheed delivers first two F-35Bs to training base (Flight International)
• Marine Corps welcomes first F-35B aircraft to its fleet (DVIDS)
• First F-35Bs arrive at Eglin AFB for training (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• Marines receive first F-35 fighter planes (The Hill)
  

Pratt & Whitney Awarded $194M F135 Long-Lead Production Contract

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Pratt & Whitney a $194,097,296 long-lead production contract for F135 engines to power the F-35 Lightning II. The low rate initial production (LRIP) contract covers long-lead materials for the sixth lot of F135 engines, and provides Pratt & Whitney the ability to start procuring long-lead items for production engines.

The sixth lot calls for 37 install engines, including 18 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) engines for the U.S. Air Force; seven carrier variant (CV) engines for the U.S. Navy; six short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems for the U.S. Marine Corps; four CTOL engines for the Italian Air Force; and two CTOL engines for The Royal Australian Air Force. The main engines deliveries in LRIP 6 are slated to begin in June 2013.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney's press release.

Related item:

• Blumenthal, Larson, Courtney Announce $194 Million Contract for Pratt & Whitney (Office of Sen. Richard Blumenthal)

Coverage:

• Pratt wins $194 million for early work on F-35 engines (Reuters)
• Pratt Gets $194M Navy Contract For F-35 Engine Parts (Hartford Courant)
• Agreement reached on F-35 engines (UPI)
• Pratt & Whitney Wins Contract for F-35 Engines (Defense News)
• Pratt & Whitney Wins $194M Contract for F-35 Engines (Defense World)
• Pratt & Whitney secures $194 mill contract (WTNH-TV)
• Pratt lands $194M jet fighter contract (Hartford Business Journal)
  

Pratt & Whitney Awarded Contract for F135 Engine Production Worth Up To $1.12B

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Pratt & Whitney an undefinitized contract award (UCA) not to exceed $1,122,306,649 for F135 production engines to power the F-35 Lightning II. Pratt & Whitney and the DoD have reached a tentative agreement on key terms for the low rate initial production (LRIP) 5 contract which contains fixed-price and cost-plus incentive fee elements. A total of $358,597,078 is being obligated at time of award, in addition to the $138,800,000 obligated in 2011 for advanced acquisition materials. This LRIP contract includes production engines, spare parts, program management, engineering support for production, sustainment and field support for the F135 engines.

The fifth lot of engines includes 21 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) engines for the U.S. Air Force; six carrier variant (CV) engines for the U.S. Navy; and three short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems for the U.S. Marine Corps. The engines in LRIP 5 will support the U.S. Services with main engine deliveries slated to begin in late-2012.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney's press release.

Coverage:

• Pratt & Whitney Wins New JSF Contract Worth Up To $1.1 Billion (Hartford Courant)
• United Technologies Scores a Billion Dollar Contract (Wall Street Cheat Sheet)
• United Technologies Unit Awarded Department of Defense Contract Valued at Up to $1.12 Billion (Financial News Network)
• Pratt & Whitney Awarded $1 Billion Engine Deal for F-35 (Aviation Today)
  

Japanese Ministry of Defense Announces Plans to Purchase F-35 Aircraft

The Japanese Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa has announced the selection of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the F-X program. The F-35 is produced by Lockheed Martin and powered by Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine. The announcement includes 42 installed engines, spare engines and a logistics support program.

The Japanese government’s decision to select the F-35 Lightning II as the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) next-generation fighter makes Japan the second country to receive the F-35 through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales process, and the 13th F-35 customer.

“We are honored to be part of the Japanese F135-powered F-35 selection and look forward to supporting the Japan Air Self Defense Force and Japanese aerospace industry,” said Bennett Croswell, president of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines. “This program selection builds on the strong relationship Pratt & Whitney has with JASDF and Japanese industry over the past 30 years on the F100 engine powering their F-15 fighters.”

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney's press release.

Coverage:

• Pratt Wins Japanese Military Contract (Hartford Courant)
• Japan Picks Lockheed to Build Its Next Fighter Jet (New York Times)
• U.S. F-35 picked as mainstay fighter (Japan Times)
• Japan Fighter Buy Bolsters U.S. Leverage In Asia (Forbes)
• Lockheed hopes to press F-35 momentum (DoD Buzz)
• Japan picks Lockheed F-35 fighter as allies stress tight ties (Reuters)
• Lockheed Martin Wins Japan Order for 42 F-35 Fighter Planes (Bloomberg)
• Lockheed Lightning II Strikes in Tokyo (Aviation Week)
• Japan selects troubled F-35 as new fighter jet (AFP)
• Japan chooses Lockheed's F-35 as its next-generation fighter (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• Japan swoops for F-35, shoots down Typhoon, F/A-18E/F (Flight International)
  

Pratt & Whitney F135 Propulsion System Powers Successful Sea Trials for F-35 Program

Sea trials have concluded for the F-35B Lightning II’s Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft. Flying under the power of Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system, two STOVL variants conducted 72 short takeoffs and vertical landings, for a total of 260 vertical landings in the program. The three-week sea trial period was conducted aboard the USS Wasp sailing from Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia.

“This is a significant and historic achievement for the F-35 program and the F135 propulsion system,” said Chris Flynn, vice president F135/F119 engine programs. “Beginning with the ‘first ever’ F-35B vertical landing to take place on a ship Oct. 3, the F135 provided dependable performance throughout the series of rigorous tests. We are meeting our goals on performance and affordability at this critical time for the F-35B program.”

Read Pratt & Whitney's press release here.

Coverage:

• JSF Has Successful Test Flights at Sea (Hartford Courant)
• Pentagon Says Marine F-35 Model Successful in First Sea Trials (Bloomberg)