Officials laud Pratt & Whitney contract modification that keeps CT at center of F135 production

Several U.S. House of Representatives members from Connecticut are applauding a $369 million contract modification for Pratt & Whitney that keeps the state at the center of the new F135 fighter jet engine construction.

U.S. Reps. John B. Larson, Rosa DeLauro and Joe Courtney recently issued a joint statement lauding the contract modification that supports the construction of 138 new F135 engines. The engines will be built in East Hartford and Middletown over the next five years, according to the U.S. Navy.

Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of the RTX Corporation, is one of the state’s largest employers. The contract modification announcement follows a $3.8 billion contract to support the production of F135 engines earlier this month.

The engines power all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II, a multi-role stealth fighter, and the contract modification finalizes production by the company for lots 18 and 19. The total value of Pratt & Whitney’s contract for the lots is $6.6 billion.

The jet engine manufacturer, headquartered in East Hartford, has delivered more than 1,400 F135 engines for Lockheed Martin’s F-35s, which is “the choice for America and 19 allied nations, strengthening global security and deterring threats around the world,” according to the company.

“Pratt & Whitney is investing heavily across our global production base and supply chain to increase production and accelerate engine delivery and sustainment to meet growing global demand for the F-35 program,” said Jill Albertelli, president of military engines for Pratt & Whitney.

The contract modification ensures that the production of the jet engines will remain at the company’s Connecticut locations, according to Larson.

“Our delegation has proudly stood together to secure record investments in the Pratt & Whitney F135, ensuring Pratt & Whitney remains the sole engine provider for the F-35 fighter jet, and supporting contracts to build an additional 138 engines right here in Connecticut over the next five years,” Larson, DeLauro and Courtney said in a joint statement.

“We remain committed to our state’s manufacturing workforce — at Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Electric Boat, or the more than one hundred suppliers scattered across our state. Connecticut workers will continue to power our armed forces and allies with state-of-the-art technology and equipment — keeping the eagle flying for years to come.”