Pratt & Whitney has selected factory equipment supplier KMWE owned DutchAero to manufacture F135 engine components.

The F135 engine is the propulsion system that powers the Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft.

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According to the company, the new 10-year long-term procurement agreement marks the beginning of a relationship between Pratt & Whitney and DutchAero.

Pratt & Whitney Military Engines Business Development and International Programs vice-president Cliff Stone said: "This award reaffirms Pratt & Whitney’s commitment to F135 engine industrial participation in the Netherlands.

"KMWE / DutchAero competed globally and was selected as the best value supplier of these engine components, and will play a valuable role in our global supply chain for the F135 engine as we continue to reduce the cost of the propulsion system."

A derivative of the combat-proven F119-PW-100 engine, the F135 is an after-burning two-shaft engine, featuring advanced prognostics, health management systems and technologies that were developed in other air force and navy technology programmes.

KMWE Group CEO Edward Voncken said: "We are delighted to have earned the trust of Pratt & Whitney to manufacture and deliver these key components for the F135 engine.

"We are delighted to have earned the trust of Pratt & Whitney to manufacture and deliver these key components for the F135 engine."

"Our contribution to the F135 engine allows us to develop our aerospace manufacturing technologies and capabilities further and helps to ensure local jobs and skills for the future, which are an essential part of our local industry."

In September, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Pratt & Whitney to set up a maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade (MRO&U) capability for the F135 engine.

Earlier, the US Department of Defense (DoD) assigned Netherlands as one of the European countries to perform maintenance of the F135 engines.

In November, Pratt & Whitney signed a new 10-year long-term procurement agreement with Multicut, a complex machined parts and subassemblies provider, to manufacture F135 engine components.