Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX), has signed a long term agreement (LTA) with Levett Engineering for the manufacture of critical F135 engine components. This LTA has an estimated value of more than $4 million over a five year period.

Levett Engineering, a precision component manufacturer located in Elizabeth, South Australia, has been supplying second and third stage turbine vane transfer tubes for the F135 engine since 2009. The current LTA encompasses the transfer tubes and additional, recently awarded, engine main bearing housings and supports.

"Levett competed and succeeded on a global stage at providing a best value manufacturing solution for the F135 engine and the F-35 program," said Mark Buongiorno, vice president, F135 engine program. "This long term agreement underscores Pratt & Whitney's commitment to Australian F135 Industrial Participation."

"We are thrilled to have signed this LTA with Pratt & Whitney to manufacture and deliver these key F135 components," said Paul Levett, managing director, Levett Engineering. "Pratt & Whitney recognizes the excellent cost, high quality, and on-time delivery value that Levett provides and we are proud to grow our partnership with Pratt & Whitney as the F-35 program continues to accelerate."

P&W is proud to power the F-35 Lightning II, and the F135 has logged more than 5,700 flights, 21,000 flight hours and more than 800 vertical landings. To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 228 F135 engines, including both System Design and Development and production engines.

The F-35 will replace aging fourth-generation aircraft for Australia and partner countries with an affordable, sustainable, and highly capable fifth-generation aircraft. The F-35 program includes partners from nine countries – Australia, Italy, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States – as well as three foreign military sales – Israel, Japan, and South Korea.