Pratt ramping up for F-35 engine production

East Hartford jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney Co. said its next-to-last test engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been delivered, clearing the way for full production to commence.

Pratt said it recently delivered the final version of its F135 engine to power a carrier-based version of the F-35 Lightning II jet fighter.

Pratt says that early this year it will submit the last of 18 flight test engines -- one for a short take off and vertical landing version of the Lightning II -- developed under contract with the Pentagon.

Soon after, Pratt will begin production deliveries of the engine, Warren Boley, Pratt's vice president of F135 engine programs, said in a statement today.

Versions of the F-35, a fifth-generation fighter plane, initially will be flown by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as eight NATO partners.

Pratt is a unit of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford.