EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., and the U.S. Department of Defense announced a contract award for the 11th lot of F135 propulsion systems, powering all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
The latest contract continues to support program affordability initiatives with reduction in propulsion system price. The 11th low rate initial production (LRIP) contract will cover 135 engines, as well as program management, engineering support, production support, spare modules, and spare parts.
The total award for the Lot 11 propulsion systems is approximately $2 billion. In general, the unit recurring flyaway (URF) price for the 110 LRIP Lot 11 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) and carrier variant (CV) propulsion systems will be reduced 0.34 percent from the previously negotiated LRIP Lot 10 URF. The URF price for the 25 LRIP Lot 11 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems (including lift systems) will be reduced 3.39 percent from the previously negotiated LRIP Lot 10 URF.
To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 375 F135 engines. Deliveries of LRIP 11 engines will start this year.