Pratt & Whitney, a unit of RTX, has secured a defense contract worth nearly $1.3 billion to supply spare parts for the F135 engine that powers the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, according to an August 3, 2026 announcement from the company's East Hartford, Connecticut headquarters. The award covers fiscal year 2026 spare parts requirements, including deployable spare packages, base-level inventories, depot lay-ins, and ground support equipment needed to keep F-35 fleets flying.
More than 1,500 F135 production engines have been delivered worldwide, and the sustainment network supported by this contract spans 42 military bases and 13 naval ships, backing fleet operations across 20 participating nations. The funding is intended to maintain operational readiness for the engine across all three F-35 variants, which serve U.S. armed forces as well as international defense partners.
The contract is described as part of an effort to streamline the F135 supply chain and speed hardware delivery to units in the field. Pratt & Whitney said the investment also positions the sustainment network for future engine core upgrades planned for the F135 program.
Engine spare parts and depot maintenance contracts of this scale reflect how sustainment work, inspection, repair, and parts logistics for military engine fleets remains a significant and recurring segment of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul spending.
Source: Aero News Journal - https://www.aeronewsjournal.com/2026/08/pratt-and-whitney-secures-massive.html