The F-35 joint program office and engine maker Pratt & Whitney announced the award of a seventh low-rate initial production batch of F135 engines late Tuesday, a deal delayed by this summer’s grounding of the F-35 fleet after a June engine fire at Eglin AFB, Fla. The Defense Department awarded P&W a $592 million contract for 36 engines, as well as program management costs, engineering support, and spares. The contract also includes the company’s commitment to “cover the cost of corrective actions for previously delivered propulsion systems and modules to correct the third stage fan blade failure” in last summer’s mishap, according to the statement. The Pentagon and P&W added they anticipate a follow on LRIP Lot eight contract for 48 more engines to be finalized “in the near future.” Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the F-35 program director, said the engine maker has “kept their commitment to lower costs.” P&W F135 Vice President Chris Flynn added the firm is “laser-focused on reducing costs and meeting our delivery schedule.” The average engine price for all three variants was reduced by around 4.5 percent from the sixth LRIP lot to the seventh after negotiations, and officials project a similar savings for Lot 8, according to the statement.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
