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Pratt & Whitney to Provide Complete Fleet Management for Italian Air Force F100 Engines

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. April 2, 2003 -- Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has received a U.S. $45 million contract to perform fleet management tasks for F100-PW-220E engines that power F-16 fighters operated by the Italian Air Force (ItAF). The contract, released from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), represents P&W’s most comprehensive fleet management agreement in support of an international F100 engine customer. The contract covers activities through the year 2010. The ItAF had elected to outsource the fleet management for their F-16 engines as the most effective approach to supporting F-16 operations in Italy, and subsequently selected Pratt & Whitney for this support.

Under the terms of the contract, P&W will be paid a fixed dollar amount per engine flight hour. In return, P&W will provide complete support of the engines on the flight line, the intermediate engine shop, and at the depot level. Material, technical support, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, repair and repair management, and program management will be provided by a team of P&W employees located both in Italy and in the U.S.

"This contract represents the culmination of a comprehensive endeavor to support our customers, the U.S. Air Force and the Italian Air Force," said Lloyd "Fig" Newton, vice president of business development and international programs, P&W. "The Italian Air Force made a sound and smart choice last year in selecting the Pratt-powered F-16 as their frontline fighter aircraft. We were committed to providing them unmatched, affordable support, and were well positioned to do so because of our engine design and maintenance expertise and comprehensive logistics support program. The Italian Air Force is a very sophisticated customer. They effectively and professionally evaluated alternatives, and now have an airframe and engine combination, along with a complete support program, that meets or exceeds all stringent requirements and selection criteria."

Newton said that the contract represents an important strategic milestone for P&W. "In securing this fleet management program for Italy, Pratt & Whitney clearly solidifies its position as a premier fleet management provider for military aircraft engine fleets," he said. "We have provided award winning service to the U.S. Air Force’s F117 engines that power the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. We look forward to providing this same level of engine expertise, proactive customer support, and affordable maintenance to the Italian Air Force. Now the customer can concentrate on his mission - flying - and Pratt & Whitney will concentrate on the engines. It’s a win-win arrangement."

The F100, powering F-15 and F-16 aircraft worldwide, is one of the most successful fighter engines in history. The combat proven engine has more than 17 million engine flying hours of experience. More than 21 air forces around the world have chosen the F100 for safe, reliable power. P&W has built upwards of 7,000 F100 engines for customers around the globe.

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 TF30 for F14 and F111 fighters; the PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and JT15 for the T-1A trainer and Pegasus UCAV.

Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies company (NYSE: UTX), is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines.

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