The U.S. Navy awarded RTX’s Pratt & Whitney, a potential $1.6 billion contract to provide global sustainment support for the F135 propulsion systems powering the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter fleet. This major undefinitized contract action (UCA) tasks the company with ensuring the continued operational readiness of the crucial engine technology used by the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, partner nations, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers worldwide. The agreement reflects the expanding operational footprint of the fifth-generation fighter jet and the need for robust, international logistics and maintenance support.
Sustaining the Global F-35 Fleet
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) oversees the extensive contract, which covers recurring sustainment support through November 2026. This comprehensive support package includes crucial activities necessary to keep the global F-35 fleet ready for action. Pratt & Whitney manages vital support functions, including program management, financial and administrative oversight, and propulsion integration across all fielding sites and operational locations.
Scope of Support and Global Footprint
The contract’s scope mandates depot-level maintenance and repair services for all fielded propulsion systems. The company will also execute material management, configuration control, and product support. Crucially, the agreement covers replenishment spare part buys and engineering support to address ongoing operational needs and potential system updates.
The work will span across various domestic and international locations, highlighting the global nature of the F-35 program. Major U.S. performance sites include East Hartford, Connecticut, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. International work will occur in strategic locations across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, including Norway, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Italy. This geographical distribution ensures timely and effective global maintenance for the advanced F135 propulsion system.
This contract ensures that the F135 engine—the most advanced operational fighter engine in the world—continues to deliver the power, reliability, and low-observability necessary for the F-35 to achieve air superiority for the U.S. and its allies.
