F-22 Raptor News

February 21, 2008 (by Asif Shamim) - Pratt & Whitney, a sibsidary of United Technologies, was awarded a $521.2 million contract from the US Air Force to maintain F119 engines for the F-22 Raptor.
The support program for the Raptor engine (SPaRE) involves activation of Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and sustainment for fielded engines in 2008, with an extra option to support activation of Hickam AFB in Honolulu, Hawaii, and sustainment services in 2009.

Sustainment activities include spare parts and labour support, fleet management and technical support of the F119 engine.

"Pratt & Whitney's F119 team is focused on meeting its customers expectations in the areas of engine availability, reliability and maintainability while keeping its customers’ fleets at a high level of readiness," said Chris Flynn, director, F119 program for Pratt & Whitney.

The only fifth generation fighter engine in production and exclusive power plant for the F-22, the F119 features unique thrust-vectoring nozzle allowing unprecedented speed, agility and precision. Two of engines enable the F-22 to supercruise, or achieve supersonic speeds without the use of the afterburner.

The F119 has exceeded 60,000 operational flight hours.