Pratt & Whitney has received a $1.13 billion contract from the Defense Department to supply 37 F135 engines for the F-35 strike fighter during Lot 4 low-rate initial production. “This contract provides our customer with a 15-percent savings on the conventional takeoff and landing/carrier variant, compared to LRIP 3, and demonstrates our commitment toward meeting aggressive cost-reduction goals,” said Bennett Croswell, the company’s military engines president. “It also speaks to the maturity of our engine, which builds on the proven technology of our F119 engine.” The contract contains fixed-price and cost-plus incentive fee elements and also covers spare parts and sustainment support. Of the LRIP 4 engines, 18 will be for F-35A CTOL aircraft and 19 for F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing airplanes. Engine deliveries are slated to begin in late 2011. Pratt delivered the first Lot 3 engine earlier this month. (Pratt release)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
