Dec. 24--EAST HARTFORD -- The U.S. Air Force has signed a contract with Pratt and Whitney to have the aerospace company provide maintenance and repair of F119 jet engines through the end of next year.
The contract was announced Monday by members of Connecticut's legislative delegation in Washington.
The deal, which is worth $231.46 million, is an extension of an existing contract between the Air Force and the company, which makes and maintains jet engine.
"This contract is tremendous news for Connecticut's aerospace industry, our national defense and workers up and down the supply chain who build F119 engines," Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and First District U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., said in a joint statement.
"Our state is a leader in producing specialized engine parts critical to the safety and success of our military aircraft and the soldiers who operate them, and today's announcement is a testament to the highly-skilled, hardworking men and women of Pratt & Whitney," the statement said. "We applaud their success and will continue to fight to ensure that military contracts are awarded to the most eligible manufacturers here at home."
Pratt & Whitney's F119 engines are used to power the F-22 fighter jet, a single-seat, twin-engine aircraft built by Lockheed Martin.
Matthew Bates, a spokesman for Pratt & Whitney said the F119 engines and F-22 Raptors "are critical to the Air Force's mission."
Call Luther Turmelle at 203-789-5706.
Copyright 2013 - New Haven Register, Conn.
