Pratt & Whitney delivered the first F135 lot 3 production engine for the F-35 strike fighter program last week. The engines in this batch incorporate modifications and improvements based on F-35 flight testing. “Delivery of our 21st production engine is a significant milestone for the F-35 program, as we continue to deliver a more mature and capable F135 engine to meet the evolving needs of the warfighter,” said Bennett Croswell, Pratt’s vice president of F135/F119 engine programs, in the company’s release. “In doing so, we continue reducing costs to produce a more affordable and reliable product for our customers.” Pratt wants to be the sole supplier of F-35 engines, but a General Electric-Rolls Royce team is fighting Pentagon efforts to kill its F136 as a competing option. (See also Pratt Responds on F135 Quality from the Daily Report archives.)
The Space Force is creating its first Guardian recruiters as the service seeks to take greater ownership of its force from day one, with aim of setting up a full squadron of around 30 Guardian recruiters later this year.