Pratt and Whitney Gets $4.4 Billion To Develop F-35 Engines

F-35 prices continue to climb; officials look to rein in cost.

Michael Wildes

Thursday, July 07, 2022 at 04:04 PM ET

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Pratt and Whitney will make 178 new engines for F-35a Lightning IIs like this one. [Courtesy: Lockheed Martin]

Key Takeaways:

The Department of Defense (DOD) awarded Pratt & Whitney a $4.4 billion contract for 178 new F-35 fighter jet engines, reaffirming its commitment to the program.
This contract proceeds despite significant concerns from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the F-35 program's production delays, rising overall costs (exceeding $1.7 trillion), and delays in operational testing and modernization efforts.
Despite these escalating costs, which Lockheed Martin attributes to inflation and supply chain issues, the DOD and the aircraft's manufacturer maintain the F-35's critical value and capabilities, with a new program director now tasked with reining in expenses.

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Despite recent concerns from the Government Accountability Office regarding production delays and costs of the military’s F-35 fighter program, the Department of Defense (DOD) awarded Pratt and Whitney (NYSE: RTX) a modified $4.4 billion contract for 178 new engines for the stealth-enabled aircraft.

According to the DOD, Pratt & Whitney will develop 152 PW-100 engine variants, of which 108 will be for the Air Force, 29 for the Navy, and 15 for the Marine Corps. Another 26 PW-600 engines will be made for the Marine Corps’ F-35B variant that has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.