JSF Engine Decision Favoring Pratt May Stand

Posted on: Jan. 24th, 2006 || Source: courant.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Chances look stronger that the Pentagon will stand by a cost-cutting decision giving Pratt and Whitney the exclusive contract to make jet engines for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote to President Bush and talked to him twice this month by videoconference, but has failed to change the president's mind about eliminating the backup engine contract issued last summer to Rolls-Royce and General Electric Co., according to analysts and news reports.

"Blair now has raised the issue with Bush on three separate occasions, once in a letter and twice in videoconferences," defense analyst Loren Thompson said Monday. "At the moment, he has nothing to show for his efforts."

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