Imagine a fighter jet that slices through enemy skies like a ghost, packing enough punch to outrun, outmaneuver, and outlast any threat. That’s the F-35 Lightning II, and it’s just gotten a massive upgrade that’s set to redefine air warfare. Buckle up, aviation enthusiasts and defense buffs—the US Air Force has inked a jaw-dropping $2.9 billion deal that’s turbocharging America’s aerial arsenal and ensuring total dominance in the battles of tomorrow.
On August 22, 2025, the Department of Defense dropped the bombshell: Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, a powerhouse division of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, snagged a not-to-exceed $2.9 billion contract modification. This isn’t just any deal—it’s for producing and delivering 141 cutting-edge F135 propulsion systems for Lot 18 of the F-35 aircraft. We’re talking engines that crank out up to 43,000 pounds of thrust, blending stealth wizardry with raw, unrelenting power. This contract powers up the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, plus our F-35 Cooperative Program Partners and Foreign Military Sales customers. Managed by Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland, it’s all wrapped up with fixed-price-incentive and cost-plus-incentive-fee perks, aiming for completion by February 2028.
What makes the F135 such a game-changer? Picture this: It’s an afterburning turbofan beast, evolved from the F-22’s legendary F119 engine, but supercharged for the F-35’s versatile missions. In dry power mode, it delivers about 28,000 pounds of thrust—plenty for stealthy cruises. Flip on the afterburner, and boom: 43,000 pounds of fury that propels the jet into supersonic realms without breaking a sweat. For the F-35B variant—the one that pulls off insane short take-off and vertical landings—it teams up with Rolls-Royce’s LiftSystem, featuring a vertical lift fan, swiveling exhaust nozzle, and wing roll-post ducts. It’s like giving a bird the muscles of a rocket!
Stealth is the name of the game here. The F135 rocks radar-absorbent coatings and a sneaky sawtooth-edged exhaust nozzle to minimize detection, letting pilots sneak up on foes in contested airspace. Add in advanced onboard diagnostics and a modular design for quick fixes, and you’ve got an engine that’s not just powerful—it’s reliable as hell, keeping fleets combat-ready when it counts.
This Lot 18 haul covers all three F-35 flavors: the runway-loving F-35A for conventional ops, the carrier-crashing F-35C for naval strikes, and the hover-master F-35B for Marine Corps magic. Beyond the engines, the deal throws in spare units, specialized tooling, support modules, program management, and engineering wizardry to keep everything humming across global fleets.
RTX isn’t shy about bragging: The F135 is the beating heart of the F-35 program, delivering stealth-compatible might and unbreakable reliability for high-stakes ops. Over 1,300 of these bad boys have already been shipped to 20 allied nations, fostering seamless teamwork among US and partner forces. Strategically, it’s a no-brainer—ensuring the F-35 stays ahead in dogfights and integrates flawlessly with allies worldwide.
But wait, there’s more than just military muscle. This deal is an economic powerhouse, bolstering a network of over 240 US suppliers and sustaining more than 67,000 American jobs. In 2024 alone, it pumped $9.1 billion into the economy. The contract’s smart financing means no funds vanish at fiscal year-end, offering rock-solid stability for our troops and the industrial backbone.
Flashback to the competition: Remember the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136? It was a rival once, but Congress pulled the plug in 2011, crowning the F135 as the undisputed champ. Even GE’s fancy XA100 adaptive cycle engine—with its promises of extra thrust, better fuel efficiency, and cooler thermal management—got sidelined. The Pentagon opted for an Engine Core Upgrade on the F135 instead, prioritizing cost savings, variant compatibility, and speedy rollout.
In a world where air superiority means everything, this $2.9 billion investment isn’t just about engines—it’s about securing the skies for decades. The F-35, armed with the F135’s unmatched power, is poised to crush adversaries and protect freedoms. As production ramps into Lot 18, one thing’s crystal clear: America’s flying fortress just got even more invincible. What do you think—will this keep the US ahead in the global arms race? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
