The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Pratt & Whitney a $194,097,296 long-lead production contract for F135 engines to power the F-35 Lightning II. The low rate initial production (LRIP) contract covers long-lead materials for the sixth lot of F135 engines, and provides Pratt & Whitney the ability to start procuring long-lead items for production engines. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

"This contract allows Pratt & Whitney to acquire raw material and begin production of F135 engine parts to support our customers and meet the F-35 production schedule," said Chris Flynn, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135/F119 Engine Programs. "This is the first production contract to include two of our key international partners and customers – the Italian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force – and we look forward to supporting them by providing the most advanced fifth generation fighter engine in the world."

The sixth lot calls for 37 install engines, including 18 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) engines for the U.S. Air Force; seven carrier variant (CV) engines for the U.S. Navy; six short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems for the U.S. Marine Corps; four CTOL engines for the Italian Air Force; and two CTOL engines for The Royal Australian Air Force. The main engines deliveries in LRIP 6 are slated to begin in June 2013.