Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine exceeds 20,000 test hours and completes all initial service release development testing

Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine has surpassed 20,000 test hours as it completes the ground development and demonstration phase of the program. The F135 accumulated 3,600 test hours during the concept demonstration phase, 15,800 test hours during development and more than 700 hours powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program. In addition, the F135 team has completed all rigorous STOVL testing required to successfully achieve the initial service release milestone. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

"Pratt & Whitney is proud of the F135's performance in the successful ground and flight test programs," said Bennett Croswell, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135/F119 Engine Programs. "Exceeding 20,000 test hours while simultaneously powering a successful F-35 flight test program demonstrates the maturity and reliability of the F135 engine for our customers' armed forces around the world."

The F135 is in production and is the only engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program today. The F135 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) engine and STOVL propulsion system continues to power the F-35 Lightning II flight test programs with 510 flights and more than 745 flight test hours. The F135 has powered all 12 flawless vertical landings and the F135 engine is demonstrating excellent reliability, performance and thrust response. To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 11 production F135 engines, including the first production STOVL propulsion systems.

Pratt & Whitney has designed, developed and tested the F135 to deliver the most advanced fifth generation fighter engine for the United States and its allies around the world. It has been further enhanced with technologies developed in several Air Force and Navy technology programs.