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RTX’s Pratt & Whitney secured a $1.3 billion U.S. contract to provide spare parts and sustainment support for the F135 engine that powers the F-35 Lightning II, strengthening maintenance and readiness for U.S. and allied fighter fleets during fiscal year 2026.

The Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract covers initial spare parts requirements, deployable spare packages, depot inventories and associated support equipment for F-35 operators worldwide. The agreement supports both the U.S. military and international partners operating the fifth-generation fighter.

The award comes as demand for the F-35 continues to grow among allied nations and as defense spending increases across Europe, Asia and other regions. It also reinforces Pratt & Whitney’s role in supporting the world’s largest fifth-generation fighter program through a global maintenance and logistics network.

“This contract will help strengthen our global sustainment network to ensure operators around the world can continue to rely on the F135’s unmatched performance,” Chris Johnson, vice president of Pratt & Whitney’s F135 Program, said.

Supporting Global F-35 Operations

The F135 engine powers all three variants of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, including the conventional takeoff F-35A, the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B, and the carrier-based F-35C.

Pratt & Whitney said it has delivered more than 1,500 production F135 engines to customers across 20 allied nations, making the engine one of the most widely deployed military jet propulsion systems currently in service.

The company’s global sustainment enterprise supports 42 operating bases and 13 naval ships used by F-35 operators. The network includes multiple maintenance depots and provides logistics, repair, technical support and spare parts to keep aircraft mission-ready wherever they are deployed.

The new contract will finance spare engines and components required throughout fiscal year 2026 while also supporting deployable maintenance packages and equipment needed for overseas operations.

Company officials said the agreement is intended to improve supply chain responsiveness and reduce maintenance delays for operators as the worldwide F-35 fleet continues to expand.

Preparing for Future Modernization

Alongside sustaining the current fleet, Pratt & Whitney is preparing to introduce the F135 Engine Core Upgrade, which has been selected as the propulsion modernization solution for the F-35.

The upgrade is designed to improve engine performance while meeting the increased cooling and power demands of future aircraft capabilities. Rather than creating an entirely new support system, the modernization program will use the existing global F135 sustainment network.

According to the company, this approach is expected to provide a cost-effective path to improving readiness while ensuring long-term support for operators over the coming decades.

The engine upgrade is considered an important element of future F-35 capability enhancements as the aircraft receives more advanced sensors, electronic warfare systems and mission software.

Growing International Fleet

The contract reflects the continued expansion of the F-35 program, which remains the primary fifth-generation fighter aircraft for the United States and many allied air forces.

Several countries are either increasing their fleets or preparing to receive their first aircraft. Germany, for example, recently reached a major production milestone as assembly of its first F-35A advanced at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility following installation of a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.

With additional aircraft entering service each year, demand for spare parts, maintenance services and logistics support has become increasingly important to ensure high aircraft availability.

Pratt & Whitney said its worldwide maintenance infrastructure enables the company to provide mission-critical support across multiple regions while reducing downtime for aircraft operators.

Broader Defense Growth Trend

The contract comes during a period of strong activity across the global aerospace and defense industry, with rising military spending driving new procurement and sustainment programs.

Lockheed Martin recently said annual F-35 production could remain at 156 aircraft per year, supported by continued demand from the Pentagon and international customers.

Other recent defense contracts include a U.S. agreement worth up to $1.8 billion for Northrop Grumman’s LITENING targeting pods, Rheinmetall’s contract to develop autonomous logistics vehicles for the U.S. Army, and growing European procurement programs that have helped push German defense company HENSOLDT’s order backlog above $11.6 billion.

Industry analysts say sustainment contracts such as Pratt & Whitney’s are becoming increasingly important as governments focus not only on acquiring new military equipment but also on ensuring existing fleets remain operational and combat-ready throughout their service lives.

The F135 contract strengthens RTX’s and its subsidiary, Pratt & Whitney’s position in the global defense sustainment market, where long-term maintenance, logistics and modernization agreements are becoming an increasingly significant source of revenue.

By expanding support for the growing international F-35 fleet and preparing for the next generation of engine upgrades, Pratt & Whitney aims to ensure the aircraft’s propulsion system remains reliable for U.S. and allied operators well into the future.