January 4, 2012

Pratt & Whitney could receive $1.1 billion to build, support and provide spare parts for 30 Joint Strike Fighter engines, the company announced Tuesday.

The contract signed with the Pentagon does not mean the company will be paid that much, which would be an average of more than $36 million for each of the F135 engines. The engine prices vary between the U.S. Air Force version, the Navy version and the U.S. Marine Corps version.

The Marine Corps version has had the most engineering challenges, as it must be able to take off and land almost like a helicopter -- short take off and vertical landing, or STOVL. The contract includes 21 engines for Air Force jets, six for the Navy and three STOVLs.

Pratt began delivering F135 engines in early 2010.

So far, the Department of Defense has planned to send $497 million to Pratt for buying materials for the engines and for assembly, support and spare parts. There are incentive payments that could follow.

"This is a vital step to allow Pratt & Whitney and our STOVL lift system partner, Rolls-Royce, to continue meeting key milestones toward production deliveries," said Bennett Croswell, president of Military Engines, Pratt & Whitney. "We anticipate contract negotiations with the F-35 Joint Program Office that will reflect the great progress being made on F135 affordability."

The main engine deliveries are scheduled to begin late this year. They are assembled in Middletown.