Pratt & Whitney Awarded $194M F135 Long-Lead Production Contract

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Pratt & Whitney a $194,097,296 long-lead production contract for F135 engines to power the F-35 Lightning II.  The low rate initial production (LRIP) contract covers long-lead materials for the sixth lot of F135 engines, and provides Pratt & Whitney the ability to start procuring long-lead items for production engines.  Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

"This contract allows Pratt & Whitney to acquire raw material and begin production of F135 engine parts to support our customers and meet the F-35 production schedule," said Chris Flynn, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135/F119 Engine Programs.  "This is the first production contract to include two of our key international partners and customers – the Italian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force – and we look forward to supporting them by providing the most advanced fifth generation fighter engine in the world."

The sixth lot calls for 37 install engines, including 18 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) engines for the U.S. Air Force; seven carrier variant (CV) engines for the U.S. Navy; six short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems for the U.S. Marine Corps; four CTOL engines for the Italian Air Force; and two CTOL engines for The Royal Australian Air Force. The main engines deliveries in LRIP 6 are slated to begin in June 2013.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. A long lead contract includes key terms and conditions to permit the contractor to commence work on long lead time items to meet the Government's delivery requirements in advance of the full funding contract.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in the U.S. Government funding related to the F-35 and F135 programs, changes in government procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Stephanie Duvall
Pratt & Whitney Military Engines
860.557.1382

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney