US Air Force’s new $2.9 billion engine deal ensures F-35 air dominance with unmatched power in combat situations
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According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on August 22, 2025, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, has secured a not-to-exceed $2.9 billion undefinitized contract modification for the production and delivery of 141 F135 propulsion systems supporting Lot 18 F-35 aircraft. The deal covers the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, along with F-35 Cooperative Program Partners and Foreign Military Sales customers. Administered by Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Maryland, the contract includes fixed-price-incentive and cost-plus-incentive-fee provisions and is scheduled for completion by February 2028.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine delivers up to 43,000 pounds of thrust, stealth-optimized design, and vertical lift capability for the F-35 fleet, ensuring unmatched power, reliability, and combat readiness in contested airspace (Picture source: Pratt & Whitney).
The Lot 18 package delivers propulsion systems for all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter: the conventional take-off and landing F-35A, the carrier-based F-35C, and the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B. In addition to complete engines, the award covers spare units, tooling, support modules, program management, and engineering services, ensuring sustained readiness across global fleets. RTX highlights the F135 as the cornerstone of the F-35 program, offering the stealth-compatible power and reliability demanded in high-intensity operations. With more than 1,300 F135s delivered to 20 allied nations, the engine program underpins interoperability across U.S. and partner forces.
The F135 engine itself is a highly advanced afterburning turbofan, derived from the F-22’s F119 powerplant but adapted for the F-35’s broader mission set. Generating approximately 28,000 pounds of thrust in dry power and up to 43,000 pounds with afterburner, the F135 provides the performance needed to sustain fifth-generation fighter operations. For the F-35B, Pratt & Whitney integrates Rolls-Royce’s LiftSystem, which combines a vertically mounted lift fan, a swiveling exhaust nozzle, and wing roll-post ducts to achieve vertical flight. The engine incorporates stealth features such as radar-absorbent coatings and a sawtooth-edged exhaust nozzle to reduce detectability, while advanced onboard diagnostics and modular design simplify maintenance and improve readiness.
Beyond technical specifications, the F135 carries significant strategic and industrial weight. For U.S. defense strategy, it ensures the F-35 retains its combat edge in contested environments while supporting allied airpower integration on a global scale. For U.S. industry, the engine sustains a vast domestic supply chain of more than 240 suppliers and secures over 67,000 American jobs, generating $9.1 billion in economic impact in 2024 alone. The contract’s financing structure, which ensures no funds expire at fiscal year’s end, provides long-term stability for both military operators and the industrial base.
When measured against its rivals, the F135 continues to dominate. The General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 was once a contender, offering comparable thrust and durability advantages, but funding was cut in 2011, leaving the F135 as the sole operational engine for the F-35. More recently, General Electric developed the XA100 adaptive cycle engine, designed to provide greater thrust, fuel efficiency, and thermal management for future fighter applications. While promising, the XA100 has not been adopted for the F-35, as the Pentagon instead chose to pursue an Engine Core Upgrade for the F135, citing cost efficiency, commonality across all variants, and rapid integration potential.
This latest $2.87 billion award ensures the F-35 fleet continues to benefit from a proven, combat-ready propulsion system while locking in the industrial and strategic advantages that the F135 provides. With production now extending into Lot 18, the engine remains a vital component of U.S. and allied airpower, maintaining superiority in contested skies well into the next decade.
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According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on August 22, 2025, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, has secured a not-to-exceed $2.9 billion undefinitized contract modification for the production and delivery of 141 F135 propulsion systems supporting Lot 18 F-35 aircraft. The deal covers the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, along with F-35 Cooperative Program Partners and Foreign Military Sales customers. Administered by Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Maryland, the contract includes fixed-price-incentive and cost-plus-incentive-fee provisions and is scheduled for completion by February 2028.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine delivers up to 43,000 pounds of thrust, stealth-optimized design, and vertical lift capability for the F-35 fleet, ensuring unmatched power, reliability, and combat readiness in contested airspace (Picture source: Pratt & Whitney).
The Lot 18 package delivers propulsion systems for all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter: the conventional take-off and landing F-35A, the carrier-based F-35C, and the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B. In addition to complete engines, the award covers spare units, tooling, support modules, program management, and engineering services, ensuring sustained readiness across global fleets. RTX highlights the F135 as the cornerstone of the F-35 program, offering the stealth-compatible power and reliability demanded in high-intensity operations. With more than 1,300 F135s delivered to 20 allied nations, the engine program underpins interoperability across U.S. and partner forces.
The F135 engine itself is a highly advanced afterburning turbofan, derived from the F-22’s F119 powerplant but adapted for the F-35’s broader mission set. Generating approximately 28,000 pounds of thrust in dry power and up to 43,000 pounds with afterburner, the F135 provides the performance needed to sustain fifth-generation fighter operations. For the F-35B, Pratt & Whitney integrates Rolls-Royce’s LiftSystem, which combines a vertically mounted lift fan, a swiveling exhaust nozzle, and wing roll-post ducts to achieve vertical flight. The engine incorporates stealth features such as radar-absorbent coatings and a sawtooth-edged exhaust nozzle to reduce detectability, while advanced onboard diagnostics and modular design simplify maintenance and improve readiness.
Beyond technical specifications, the F135 carries significant strategic and industrial weight. For U.S. defense strategy, it ensures the F-35 retains its combat edge in contested environments while supporting allied airpower integration on a global scale. For U.S. industry, the engine sustains a vast domestic supply chain of more than 240 suppliers and secures over 67,000 American jobs, generating $9.1 billion in economic impact in 2024 alone. The contract’s financing structure, which ensures no funds expire at fiscal year’s end, provides long-term stability for both military operators and the industrial base.
When measured against its rivals, the F135 continues to dominate. The General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 was once a contender, offering comparable thrust and durability advantages, but funding was cut in 2011, leaving the F135 as the sole operational engine for the F-35. More recently, General Electric developed the XA100 adaptive cycle engine, designed to provide greater thrust, fuel efficiency, and thermal management for future fighter applications. While promising, the XA100 has not been adopted for the F-35, as the Pentagon instead chose to pursue an Engine Core Upgrade for the F135, citing cost efficiency, commonality across all variants, and rapid integration potential.
This latest $2.87 billion award ensures the F-35 fleet continues to benefit from a proven, combat-ready propulsion system while locking in the industrial and strategic advantages that the F135 provides. With production now extending into Lot 18, the engine remains a vital component of U.S. and allied airpower, maintaining superiority in contested skies well into the next decade.
