HARTFORD – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Congressman John Larson (D-Conn.), U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), and U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) issued a joint statement today praising the U.S. Department of Defense’s recent $592 million contract with Pratt & Whitney for the seventh lot of F135 propulsion systems to power F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The low rate initial production contract for the seventh lot will deliver 36 total engines.


“We applaud Pratt & Whitney for its continued commitment to driving down the cost of the F135 engine,” the delegation said. “With the signing of this $592 million contract, Pratt will further reduce the cost of the engine by 4.5 percent and meet the war on cost goals. This contract is fantastic news that should serve as a reminder of the bright future for Connecticut’s aerospace industry and the highly skilled workforce that supports it.”