Pratt & Whitney announced Monday that it has delivered the first F135 spare engine to the F-35 schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla., to support the strike fighter’s training operations. Those activities are set to commence there this summer. “Delivery of the first F135 engine to Eglin in support of training operations is a significant milestone for the F-35 program,” said Chris Flynn, vice president for the company’s F135 and F119 engine programs. Flynn said Pratt has completed delivery of the F135s built during the first two production lots and has started delivering Lot 3 engines. The company also recently signed the contract to supply 37 Lot 4 engines. F135s have powered all three F-35 configurations in nearly 1,000 flights, accumulating 1,450 flight hours, according to Pratt. This includes enabling more than 110 “flawless” vertical landings with the Marine Corps F-35B variant, the company said.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.