Pratt &Whitney has been awarded $66 million to prepare the Engine Core Upgrade of F135 engines for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft
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The US has increased funding for the F135 engine modernisation project for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. Pratt & Whitney received more than $60 million.
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The US manufacturer will be able to continue to conduct preliminary design work for the Engine Core Upgrade (ECU). The $66m allocation has increased the funding to $180m.
In March 2023, the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps decided to upgrade the F135 engine instead of developing a new adaptive cycle propulsion system. Pratt &Whitney said it was the right decision to support national defence and defence industrial base priorities.
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The ECU is the fastest, least risky and cheapest way to open the way for the F-35 fighter jets to become Block 4 upgrades. The upgrade will allow the F135 ECU to be used in all versions of the aircraft, whereas the adaptive engine would not have been compatible with the F-35B. In addition, the ECU will result in $40bn in lifecycle savings.
Source: Pratt & Whitney