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Pratt & Whitney Issues First F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Content Contract to Norwegian Industry

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., October 16, 2002 -- Norway’s Volvo Aero Norge (VAN) will provide hardware for Pratt & Whitney’s (P&W) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) propulsion system in what is the first contract issued to Norwegian industry for JSF work. P&W, the propulsion system prime contractor for JSF, issued a contract to VAN for low pressure turbine (LPT) shafts for the JSF’s F135 propulsion system.

The current contract covers LPT shafts to support the F135’s System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. In October 2001, P&W was awarded a ten year, $4.8 billion contract to cover SDD activities for JSF.

Kristin Krohn Devold, Norway’s Minister of Defense, said, "This contract from Pratt & Whitney represents a good first start for Norwegian industry on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The opportunity for companies like Volvo Aero Norge to join such a substantial program at an early stage is of great benefit to Norway's aerospace industry as a whole. We expect the program to facilitate the integration of many Norwegian defense companies in the industrial partnerships that will develop, deliver and support the JSF."

"We are pleased to join Pratt & Whitney in the JSF’s development phase," said Per Hroar Olsen, president, VAN. "Norway’s joining the JSF program as a partner nation benefits both Norway and the U.S., from both a government and industry perspective. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is extremely capable, it’s affordable, and it offers exceptional opportunities for industrial participation. We have a long history of cooperation with Pratt & Whitney on the F-16, and this will clearly benefit the JSF program." VAN, previously known as Norsk Jetmotor, has been working with P&W since 1976 when Norway, as one of four European Participating Government nations, ordered F-16 fighters powered by the P&W F100 engine. At that time, the LPT module was subcontracted to Norsk as part of the co-production program.

"VAN has been producing military LPT shafts and other hardware for Pratt & Whitney for more than 25 years now," said Ed O’Donnell, director of JSF international programs, P&W. "They have proven repeatedly that they provide best value for many critical components. Pratt & Whitney depends on our supply chain to manufacture LPT shafts, and VAN is a key source for not only the F100, but also several other military and commercial engine models. Pratt & Whitney seeks the best value from industry in the JSF partner nations, to complement our own high technology manufacturing expertise. We look forward to enhancing our position in the JSF program by developing a network of international participants that demonstrate excellence in propulsion system components and services."

P&W is the propulsion system prime contractor for JSF. Its F135 propulsion system will power all versions of the F-35 JSF - CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing), CV (carrier variant), and STOVL (short takeoff/vertical landing). The first production configuration F135 goes to test in 2003, has its first flight in the F-35 in 2005, and enters production in 2007. The F135 is an evolution of the F119 engine powering the F/A-22 Raptor. Together, these engines will have more than one million engine flying hours of experience by the end of the F135’s development phase in 2012. Up to 6,000 F-35 fighters could be produced for U.S. and international customers.

Pratt & Whitney military engine models include the F135 for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; the F119 powering the F/A-22 Raptor; the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III; the F100 for F-15 and F-16 fighters; the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; the TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, C-141 and KC-135 aircraft; the PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and JT15 for the T-1A trainer and Pegasus UCAV.

Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) company, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. Volvo Aero Norge, located in Kongsberg, Norway, is a leading manufacturer of low pressure turbine cases, turbine exhaust cases, and turbine shafts and vanes. The company also produces discs, seals and hubs for turbofan engines. VAN works closely with its parent company, Volvo Aero Corporation, to provide best value for its customers.

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