Larson, Courtney, DeLauro Applaud $1.6 Billion Federal Contract for Pratt & Whitney F135 Sustainment Work

Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement applauding the $1.6 billion contract awarded by the Pentagon for Pratt & Whitney, with the majority of the work being performed in Connecticut. This contract funds sustainment work for the F135 engine, protecting thousands of local jobs and ensuring F-35 mission readiness for our military and allies across the globe. 

“This contract announcement is good news for our state’s highly skilled machinists and engineers, and our national security. It is a win for Pratt & Whitney and the 23,000 workers across our state that work on the F135 engine. The F135 engine is the most advanced, reliable, and capable production fighter engine the world has ever known – built right here in East Hartford and Middletown. Last year, we led and won the fight against out-of-state special interests to ensure Connecticut’s union machinists can keep the eagle flying for years to come, supporting F135 modernization over an expensive, wasteful, and risky alternate engine that would cost taxpayers billions. Whether it is 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 with cutting-edge technology and equipment.”  

The Connecticut Congressional delegation has twice led and won the fight to defend the Connecticut-built F135 engine from special interests seeking to replace it with a costly and risky alternate engine. Most recently, in 2023, Rep. Larson, as Co-Chair of the Joint Strike Fighter Caucus, and Rep. Courtney, as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, led a coalition of bipartisan lawmakers, workers, and industry leaders to convince the Biden Administration to drop support for funding an alternate engine development project, and in 2024, led by Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, the delegation secured language in government funding legislation prohibiting the use of federal funds for any alternate engine for the F-35.