Israel awards Pratt & Whitney 15-year F100 sustainment contract

EAST HARTFORD, Calif., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Pratt & Whitney has signed a 15-year F100 sustainment contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense to support the country's fleet of F-15I and F-16I aircraft.

The company will begin providing full propulsion sustainment support on January 1, 2016. The contract includes material forecasting, repairs and supplies for depot-level spare parts. The singing of the contract marks the longest-term contract for fighter jet engines in the company's history.

"The IAF and IMOD have enjoyed a decades-long relationship with Pratt & Whitney, over which time they have earned our confidence and trust," Aharon Marmarosh, Israel Mission to the United States director said of the contract. "Because of Pratt & Whitney's expertise and track record of high-performance on our prior material management program, we felt confident in working with them on a full 15-year FMP program."

Pratt & Whitney's F100 engine supports 23 air froces around the world, including the U.S. Air Force's F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons. The company touts the engine's superior safety record and life-cycle cost. The latest variant, the F100-PW-229 engine was upgraded to increase service life from seven years to ten years.

Pratt & Whitney is also scheduled to deliver its first F135 engine for the Israeli Air Force's F-35 aircraft in December 2016.