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)
South Korea conducted the final live-fire drill with its F-4 Phantom II and AGM-142 missiles before retiring the two defense assets in June, amid the largest U.S.-Korea Aerial Exercise in full swing.