Pratt & Whitney To Power Korean F-15Ks

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Apr. 29 /PRNewswire/ --

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a contract to provide engines to power new F-15K fighter jets for the Republic of Korea Air Force. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company.

"We are delighted that the Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration has chosen to return to Pratt & Whitney to provide power for their new F-15s," said Bill Begert, Vice President of Business Development for Pratt & Whitney. "We believe the capability, safety and reliability of the F100-PW-229 engine, coupled with Pratt & Whitney's commitment to the readiness of the Republic of Korea Air Force F-15s and F-16s is an unbeatable combination. We have worked together extensively to create a strong and successful relationship."

Pratt & Whitney will provide engine kits to Samsung Techwin for local assembly under the terms of the contract.

Pratt & Whitney's F100 is the sole propulsion system for F-15s of the U.S Air Force, Japan Self-Defense Force and Israel Defense Force. It has been powering F-15s since first flight in 1972, and for the past 36 years. The F100-PW-229 has accumulated almost a million F-15 flight hours as the engine has continued to evolve to incorporate technological innovation and meet changing mission requirements.

Capitalizing on technology developed for the F135 and F119, the world's only fifth generation fighter jet engines, this propulsion system provides advanced, dependable power for F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft around the world. To date, the F100-PW-229 powered aircraft fleet has logged more than 963,000 flight hours in more than 16 years of operational service.

The F100-PW-229 is the latest evolution of the F100 family of tactical aircraft engines. Incorporation of the F100-PW-229 Engine Enhancement Package (EEP) -- successfully demonstrated in 2004 -- will lead to increasing the engine depot inspection interval from seven years to 10 years. With the extended interval, the EEP configuration will provide up to a 30 percent life cycle cost reduction for the engine. The EEP will also offer significant safety benefits, reducing the predicted in-flight shutdown rate by up to 25 percent. The F100-PW-229 engine is the only fighter engine funded and qualified by the U.S. Air Force to the 6000 cycle interval capability.

Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F100 family that powers the F-15 and F-16, the F119 for the F-22 Raptor, the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II, the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler, the TF33 powering AWACS/Joint STARS/B-52/KC-135 aircraft, and TF30 for the F-111. In addition, Pratt & Whitney offers a global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and military aftermarket services (MAS) focused on maintaining engine readiness for our customers.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Steve Lowry Jennifer Whitlow Pratt & Whitney Military Engines Pratt & Whitney 860.557.0122 860.565.9600 steven.lowry@pw.utc.com jennifer.whitlow@pw.utc.com