Defense
More on Defense
East Hartford, CT - Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement praising President Biden’s decision to pursue F135 engine modernization in his 2024 budget instead of starting a new competition for an Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) engine to power the F-35 fighter jet.
Rep. John B. Larson wrote the following op-ed that appeared in Aviation Week:
Over the past year, the public debate on how best to modernize the F-35’s propulsion system has dragged on. We have heard from the military services, the partners and the contractors—no shortage of analyses have looked closely at the potential pathways ahead, which will have major implications for the entire program. The facts and data are clear. It is time for us to modernize the F-35’s existing engine, the F135, and dispel the notion of a second engine once again.
Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) led a bipartisan letter with 35 of his colleagues in support of the F135 engine. Addressed to Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante, the letter opposes the Air Force’s plan to pursue the risky Advanced Engine Technology Program (AETP) engine as a replacement for the existing F135 engine, which is the safest and most capable fighter engine ever produced.
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted to pass bipartisan defense legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act (S. 3522) with Rep. John B. Larson’s (CT-01) support, sending this legislation to the President’s desk.
Windsor, CT – Today Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) toured TLD America’s Windsor facility and met with company leadership. TLD America is one of the many F-35 suppliers in Connecticut. The F-35 enterprise supports 6,000 jobs in the First District alone.



