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Pratt & Whitney F135 Program Reaches 6,000 SDD Test Hours, Remains on Track to Support Lightning II's First Flight

Contact:
Heather Summerer
(860) 565-0557
heather.summerer@pw.utc.com

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., October 10, 2006 - Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine program has achieved more than 6,000 hours of System Development and Demonstration (SDD) ground testing and is on schedule to support the first flight of the F-35 Lightning II this fall. The 6,000 SDD hours are in addition to the more than 3,600 hours accumulated during the concept demonstration phase of the F-35 program, reflecting the F135's maturity and reliability. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. ( NYSE:UTX) company.

Most recently, the F-35 completed its first series of F135 engine runs culminating in a full after-burner test with 40,000 pounds of thrust. The F135 engine is on schedule to begin taxi testing this fall.

"The F135 engine is performing extremely well. As we move closer to first flight the engine continues to exceed our expectations," said Bill Gostic, vice president of F135 Engine Programs for Pratt & Whitney. "The F135 program is on track to support the F-35's first flight later this year."

The technologically advanced F135 engine is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. Together, the F135 and F119 will have logged approximately one million flight hours before the F-35’s introduction into operational service in 2012.

The F135 propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce, providing lift components for the STOVL F-35B variant; and Hamilton Sundstrand, provider of the F135’s control system, external accessories and gearbox.

In addition to the F135 engine for the F-35 Lightning II and the F119 for the F-22 Raptor, Pratt & Whitney military engine models include the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III; F100 for F-15 and F-16 fighters; J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, d KC-135 aircraft; TF30 for the F-111; PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and JT15 for the T-1A trainer and Pegasus UCAV.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies provides high-technology products and services to the aerospace and building industries.

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