In a significant move to bolster the combat effectiveness and longevity of the US Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has secured a $1.5-billion, three-year contract to sustain the aircraft’s powerful F119 engines. This deal is set to enhance engine readiness, reduce maintenance costs, and reinforce the Raptor’s status as one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.
With the ongoing evolution of aerial combat, maintaining and upgrading the Raptor’s powerplant is a critical step in ensuring the US Air Force retains its air superiority.
A Strategic Investment in Readiness and Efficiency
The contract covers the sustainment of over 400 F119 engines, which have collectively logged over 900,000 flight hours in service. This initiative underscores the Air Force’s commitment to keeping the F-22 Raptor fleet mission-ready while also improving cost efficiency.
According to Jill Albertelli, President of Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney, in a statement:
“The F119’s readiness and reliability rates have never been more important, and we are improving both while lowering lifecycle costs.”
A key aspect of this effort is Pratt & Whitney’s Usage Based Lifing (UBL) program, an advanced maintenance strategy that utilizes real-time data analytics to optimize engine performance and longevity.
By closely monitoring engine usage and wear patterns, UBL extends the life of critical components, minimizes unnecessary maintenance, and reduces operational costs.
Additionally, an engine control schedule update is being implemented to improve kinematic performance, ensuring that the F-22 continues to perform at peak efficiency in combat scenarios.
In a significant move to bolster the combat effectiveness and longevity of the US Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has secured a $1.5-billion, three-year contract to sustain the aircraft’s powerful F119 engines. This deal is set to enhance engine readiness, reduce maintenance costs, and reinforce the Raptor’s status as one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.
With the ongoing evolution of aerial combat, maintaining and upgrading the Raptor’s powerplant is a critical step in ensuring the US Air Force retains its air superiority.
A Strategic Investment in Readiness and Efficiency
The contract covers the sustainment of over 400 F119 engines, which have collectively logged over 900,000 flight hours in service. This initiative underscores the Air Force’s commitment to keeping the F-22 Raptor fleet mission-ready while also improving cost efficiency.
According to Jill Albertelli, President of Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney, in a statement:
“The F119’s readiness and reliability rates have never been more important, and we are improving both while lowering lifecycle costs.”
A key aspect of this effort is Pratt & Whitney’s Usage Based Lifing (UBL) program, an advanced maintenance strategy that utilizes real-time data analytics to optimize engine performance and longevity.
By closely monitoring engine usage and wear patterns, UBL extends the life of critical components, minimizes unnecessary maintenance, and reduces operational costs.
Additionally, an engine control schedule update is being implemented to improve kinematic performance, ensuring that the F-22 continues to perform at peak efficiency in combat scenarios.
The Power Behind the F-22 Raptor
The F119 engine is a marvel of aviation engineering, providing the F-22 Raptor with unmatched speed, maneuverability, and stealth capabilities.
Each Raptor is equipped with two of these twin-spool, augmented turbofan engines, which generate over 35,000 pounds of thrust each. This immense power enables the aircraft to achieve and sustain supersonic speeds of over Mach 2 without the use of afterburners, a revolutionary capability known as supercruise.
Supercruise not only extends operational range and fuel efficiency but also enhances the Raptor’s stealth by reducing its infrared signature.
Unlike traditional afterburners, which provide extra thrust at the cost of significant fuel consumption and heat generation, supercruise allows the F-22 to maintain a tactical advantage without compromising efficiency or detectability.
This capability is particularly crucial in modern warfare, where agility, range, and stealth define aerial dominance.
Ensuring the F-22 Stays Ahead in the Skies
The F-22 Raptor, developed by Lockheed Martin, remains one of the most formidable air superiority fighters in existence.
Though newer fighter jets, such as the F-35 Lightning II, have introduced next-generation stealth and avionics, the F-22 remains unmatched in its dogfighting capability, speed, and high-altitude performance. However, sustaining a fleet of high-performance aircraft requires continuous maintenance, upgrades, and modernization efforts.
Pratt & Whitney’s contract ensures that the F-22 fleet remains combat-ready and cost-effective while pushing the boundaries of operational efficiency.
This investment signals that the Air Force is committed to keeping the Raptor in peak condition for years to come, even as future fighter programs, such as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, begin to take shape.
A Continued Commitment to Excellence
With adversaries developing increasingly sophisticated air combat technologies, maintaining the US Air Force’s technological edge is more critical than ever.
The $1.5-billion contract with Pratt & Whitney demonstrates a clear commitment to ensuring that the F-22 Raptor remains a dominant force in aerial combat.
Through advanced maintenance strategies, cost-reduction efforts, and performance upgrades, the sustainment of the F119 engine plays a vital role in preserving the aircraft’s strategic advantages.
As the US Air Force continues to modernize its fleet, investments in proven platforms like the F-22 Raptor are essential for maintaining global air superiority. This contract is more than just an engine sustainment deal—it is a testament to the enduring power, agility, and dominance of the world’s premier air superiority fighter.
