Nov. 20 — Jet-engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has been awarded an approximately $1.1 billion contract from the U.S. government for additional work on F100 engines for fighter jets.
The contract was awarded on Sept. 29, but due to the shutdown of the federal government, it was only posted last week on the website of the Department of War, which was previously called the Department of Defense. The agreement encompasses "F100 engine consumable and depot level repairable parts and program management services," according to a notice on the website.
"Pratt & Whitney is fully committed to supporting the F100 engine and its sustainment efforts," Pratt & Whitney said in a written statement this week. "We continue to prioritize readiness, reliability and performance for our global customers."
On its website, Pratt & Whitney notes that, "With more than 30 million flight hours flown by 23 air forces, the F100 delivers superior capability with industry-leading dependability, reliability and performance to the global fleet of F-15s and F-16s."
F100 production is completed at Pratt & Whitney's manufacturing facility in Middletown.
The new contract follows a number of other recent defense deals for Pratt, including a $2.9 billion contract modification announced in August for F135 engines, which power F-35 fighter jets.
In addition to the U.S. military's use of F-35, 19 other countries have F-35s or purchase agreements for the fighter jets. While Pratt & Whitney produces the F-35's engines, the main manufacturer of the F-35s is Lockheed Martin, whose businesses include Connecticut-based helicopter maker Sikorsky.
This week, President Donald Trump announced an agreement to sell a number of F-35s to Saudi Arabia. While Saudi Arabia is one of the closest allies of the U.S. in the Middle East, the deal has raised some concerns. Among them are worries that China could gain access to the F-35's technology through its position as Saudi Arabia's top trading partner. But some military experts assert that the constant improvement of American military systems counteracts any intellectual-property theft that might have happened years ago.
Pratt & Whitney's deliveries of F135 engines, as well as GTF models for commercial aircraft, were affected by the three-week strike in May of the company's approximately 3,000 Connecticut-based machinists. The work stoppage was resolved when the machinists approved a new four-year contract.
Pratt & Whitney is one of the largest employers in Connecticut, with approximately 10,800 people based across its plants in East Hartford and Middletown.
Among other transactions recently announced by the Department of War, it indicated this week that it would continue funding for Groton-based General Dynamics Electric Boat's construction of Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines. A new "cost-only modification" of approximately $2.3 billion to a previously awarded contract is intended "for additional advance procurement and advance construction" of hulls and will "support additional program execution." The announcement also noted that, "No funding will be obligated at the time of award."
Electric Boat officials have said that the company is aiming to deliver the first of the Columbia-class vessels in late 2028 or early 2029.
Last month, Electric Boat held a christening ceremony for the Utah, one of the fast-attack, Virginia-class ships it is building for the Navy.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
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