The U.S. Department of War recently awarded a $670 million contract modification to Pratt & Whitney to work on F135 engines that power F-35 fighter jets.
The contract modification was disclosed this week on the War Department’s website. Pratt’s facility in East Hartford will handle 97% of the work, with the project expected to be completed in December 2028, according to the department.
In a joint statement released Friday, U.S. Reps. Rosa DeLauro, John Larson and Joe Courtney said the contract boosts the state’s economy and protects union jobs.
“This $4.6 billion contract for Pratt & Whitney is a testament to Connecticut’s status as a leader in defense technology. This contract protects union jobs while strengthening our national defense and boosting Connecticut’s economy. This is a win for Pratt & Whitney and the skilled and dedicated workers in Middletown and East Hartford who are the backbone of this industry, and who demonstrate time and again that the best jet engines in the world are made in Connecticut,” the joint statement said.
“The F135 is the most advanced, reliable and capable production fighter engine the world has ever known. We are proud to have led and won the fight against special interests attempting to replace the F135 with an expensive, wasteful and risky alternate engine. Connecticut’s valued defense companies play a pivotal role in providing our armed forces with the technology and equipment they need to keep our country safe and secure, and we are proud to support them.”
Back in May, the company’s approximately 3,000 Connecticut-based machinists went on strike, delaying work on the F135 engine. The work stoppage was resolved when the machinists approved a new four-year contract on May 27.
The $670 million contract modification was awarded to procure spares for the F135 engine, which powers the F-35 aircraft, bringing the total value of its current contract to $4.6 billion, according to the War Department. The new announcement follows a number of other recent contract modifications for Pratt & Whitney, including one announced last month for F135 production that is worth about $2.9 billion, the department said.
DeLauro, Larson, and Courtney said they fought to defend the F135 engine from special interests seeking to replace it. In 2023, DeLauro and Larson said they convinced the Biden administration to drop support for funding an alternate engine development project. In 2024, they said they secured language in government funding legislation prohibiting the use of federal funds for any alternate engine for the F-35.
“This $670 million contract modification is a huge win for the talented machinists at Pratt & Whitney and our national defense,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement. “Pratt’s F135 engines are top of the line and power the world’s most dynamic fighter jets. I am thrilled to see yet another vote of confidence for Connecticut made products and will keep fighting to support our local defense manufacturers.”
Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com.