Pratt & Whitney selects Italian partners to provide components for F-35 military jet engines

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., 8 April 2016. Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), has awarded long-term contracts totaling $17 million over 10 years to four key Italian aerospace suppliers – Aerea S.p.A., APR S.r.l., Mepit S.r.l., and NCM S.p.A. – to manufacture F135 engine components for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.

Pratt & Whitney has invested in a global manufacturing network and supply chain to ensure the success of the F135 engine program, officials explain.

In order to double the size of both commercial and military engine production by 2020, the company has signed long-term agreements valued at more than $22 billion dollars with nearly 800 key product suppliers worldwide. To date, F135 production requirements have resulted in more than $25 million dollars in contracts to Italian companies, and additional F135 engine work may increase for Italian industry as the production ramp grows in the coming years.

Pratt & Whitney officials selected Aerea S.p.A, APR S.r.l., Mepit S.r.l., and NCM S.p.A. on a best value basis to support the F135 engine program as a result of their readiness to deliver high-quality parts, on-cost and on-time, according to Cliff Stone, vice president business development, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.

"Pratt & Whitney works hard to identify and team with capable suppliers who can deliver high-quality products at competitive prices. These awards directly support our goals for F135 industrial participation with small and medium enterprise suppliers," Stone say. "We have had great success working with Italian industry. We recognize the advanced capabilities and value that exists with these particular suppliers and look forward to having them as part of Pratt & Whitney's global supply chain for the F135 engine."

"We are thrilled to be selected as a best value supplier for Pratt & Whitney's advanced F135 engine," says Silvano Mantovani, chief executive officer, Aerea S.p.A. "This long-term supply agreement is a recognition of our technological know-how and the capabilities that exist in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility."

"This agreement signals strong confidence from Pratt & Whitney, and positions us well for additional F135 engine component manufacturing opportunities of increasing value," adds Andrea Romiti, chief executive officer, APR S.r.l. "We are prepared to deliver on our cost and product quality commitments, and we are ready for the F135 engine production ramp."

Italy is one of the original nine partner nations for the F-35 and a key contributor to the development and production of the F-35 Lightning II, officials say. The current program of record for Italy is for the procurement of 60 F-35A and 30 F-35B aircraft, confirming the aircraft as the official replacement for the legacy Panavia Tornado, AMX, and AV-8B aircraft currently in use by the Italian Ministry of Defence.

The F-35 Lightning II program includes partners from Australia, Italy, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States, as well as three foreign military sales customers – Israel, Japan, and South Korea. A total of 3,170 F-35s are currently planned for production. To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 266 F135 engines for the advanced, single-engine F-35 aircraft.

Pratt & Whitney designs, manufactures, and services aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries.