The Pentagon on Monday awarded Pratt & Whitney a $1 billion contract modification for 28 F135 engines for F-35s. The contract includes about $365.5 million for 28 engines for the Air Force F-35A variants, along with six engines for Marine Corps F-35B variant, and four engines for Navy F-35Cs. In addition, the contract includes seven engines for international partners, 11 spare systems, and one training engine for the Air Force, according to the contract announcement. The engines are for the lot nine low-rate initial production contract of F-35s, with work expected to be complete in 2019.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.