The Beating Heart of the F-35 Fleet
“The combat-proven F135 engine delivers the power, safety, reliability and stealth needed to execute the toughest missions,” said Christopher K. Johnson, vice president of Pratt & Whitney’s F135 program. He emphasized that the award ensures American and allied pilots maintain dominance in the skies for decades to come.
The engines will power all three F-35 models:
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Conventional take-off and landing jets for the Air Force,
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Carrier-based aircraft for the Navy,
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Short take-off and vertical landing versions for the Marine Corps.
Economic Muscle Behind Military Might
Beyond defense readiness, Pratt & Whitney underscored the program’s economic ripple effect. More than 1,300 F135 engines have already been delivered, with the program contributing $9 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023 alone. That impact translates into 67,000 domestic jobs and support for 240 U.S. suppliers—a vast industrial ecosystem humming beneath the fighter’s stealthy silhouette.
With this Pratt & Whitney $2.8B Award, the Pentagon doubles down on both cutting-edge air power and the American workforce powering it, betting that the F135 remains the indispensable core of the world’s most advanced fighter jet.
