Larson, Courtney, DeLauro Applaud $1.3 Billion Contract to Strengthen Engine Manufacturing Supply Chain
Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) applauded the Department of Defense’s announcement of a $1.3 billion modification to a Pratt & Whitney contract for F135 maintenance and sustainment. 46% of all the work completed under this contract will be performed in East Hartford and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
“The F135 is the most capable production fighter engine the world has ever known, and it is built right here in Connecticut by the best machinists and engineers in the world,” said Larson. “This contract supports nearly 20,000 jobs in our state and the security needs of our Military Services and our allies across the globe. It is a true testament to the hard work of Connecticut’s skilled machinists and engineers, who have driven down production costs of this engine by 50%. The entire Connecticut delegation led a broad coalition of machinists and Members of Congress in both parties to ensure Pratt & Whitney remains the sole source provider of the F135 engine, a decision that will secure critical investments in our region’s workforce for years to come and save taxpayers billions of dollars. Together, we will keep the eagle flying!”
"This award by the Department of Defense once again validates the critical importance that the employees of Pratt & Whitney deliver to the F-35 enterprise, particularly on maintenance and life cycle sustainment," said Courtney, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. "The contract enables Pratt & Whitney to continue their impressive work to reduce life cycle and maintenance costs while increasing overall readiness of the F-35 fleet to deliver for our warfighters and international program partners. Kudos to my colleague and friend Congressman John B. Larson for championing the F-35 enterprise, which has created thousands of good-paying jobs for Connecticut workers.”
“This $1.3 billion contract modification builds on the progress I made negotiating this year’s bipartisan funding bill, which firmly established Pratt & Whitney as the sole engine supplier for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the world’s most advanced and capable fifth-generation fighter aircraft,” said DeLauro. “Not only will this contract support high-skilled, well-paying jobs in Connecticut, it will continue to reduce the costs of the F135 engine program for taxpayers, which have already been cut in half thanks to years of cumulative improvements in production and design. I was proud to work with such a broad group of lawmakers led by Congressman Larson, including our whole Connecticut delegation, to finalize this contract. Today, we are ensuring that high-skilled well-paying jobs will be protected and created right here in Connecticut American taxpayers continue to get the best value for their money out of the F-35 platform, and that our servicemembers and allied militaries can rely on the Connecticut-made, world-beating F135 engine for years to come.”
As Co-Chair of the Joint Strike Fighter Caucus, Rep. Larson led a coalition of machinists and bipartisan Members of Congress in support of engine modernization and against a costly alternative engine to the Connecticut-built F135.
Earlier this year, President Biden signed a bipartisan funding bill into law, negotiated by Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro and supported by the entire Connecticut delegation, that achieved a nearly three-decade goal to secure Pratt & Whitney as the sole supplier of engines for the F-35.