Pratt & Whitney announced it had secured a three-year, $1.5 billion contract to sustain F119 engines, the power behind the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 fighter jets.
The company, an RTX business, said the contract would improve the readiness and lower costs for the more than 400 engines in the U.S. Air Force’s fleet. Combined the engines have already flown more than 900,000 flight hours.
“The F119’s readiness and reliability rates have never been more important, and we are improving both while lowering lifecycle costs,” Jill Albertelli, president of Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney, said. “We are committed to helping our U.S. Air Force customer maintain the F-22’s combat edge.”
Company officials said each F-22 Raptor contains two F119 engines which provide more than 35,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the fighter jets to reach altitudes of more than 65,000 feet with speed and agility. The F-22 can achieve and maintaining supersonic speeds without afterburners, a feature known as supercruise that conserves fuel and extends the jet’s operational range.
Pratt & Whitney said it has lowered costs on the engines through Usage Based Lifing, which leverages real-time data on the engines to enhance maintenance efficiency and extend engine life, while improving the engine’s kinematic performance with an engine control schedule update. Officials said the latest contract will continue the readiness and cost savings efforts.