Pratt & Whitney recently announced its plans for a $255 million investment into developing a new Oklahoma City facility. The multimillion-dollar investment through 2028 will establish an 845,000-square-foot, world-class sustainment facility as a depot operations hub for all Pratt & Whitney military engines.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt applauded the investment into the state’s “growing international dominance in the aerospace and defense industry.”
Gov. Stitt said the investment helps strengthen Oklahoma’s position as the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capital of the world.
“I am thrilled for Pratt & Whitney to continue to invest and expand in our state.”
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater said the organization is eager to continue its relationship with Pratt & Whitney moving forward as well.
“We have been honored to partner with Pratt & Whitney and coordinate the Oklahoma City team as they developed this project,” Gillenwater said.
“We appreciate the work of our additional partners, including the Oklahoma Industries Authority and Alliance for Economic Development for their work on the site acquisition.”
The planned investment into the Oklahoma City site will increase its MRO capabilities as programs expand, serving as the only site capable of performing all F135 power module scope levels.
“Last year, the team achieved record output for the F117, F119 and F135 Heavy Maintenance Centers. This investment in a new facility will further expand our capabilities and reaffirm our commitment to our customers for years to come,” said Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.
“We are grateful for the support provided by our partner, the United States Air Force, and by the state of Oklahoma and the local community.”
Congressman Tom Cole said the investment will play a significant role in rapidly delivering the F135 engine core upgrade to the F-35 fleet, “which is critical to ensuring all the services have the capabilities they need to fight an advancing threat starting in 2028.”
Part of a global sustainment network, the Oklahoma City site works with other sites in Australia, Japan, Netherlands and Norway. U.S. locations like Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida and West Palm Beach also coordinate with the facility.
Pratt & Whitney’s Oklahoma City F135 Maintenance Center, activated in 2014, performs most of the fighter engine’s maintenance, recently producing 61% of the entire sustainment network’s total power module output.
“Pratt & Whitney has a long history in Oklahoma City, and we congratulate them on this new facility, which enhances their efficiency and ability to serve the U.S. Air Force,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.
“Tinker [Air Force Base] is a cornerstone of Oklahoma City’s economy and culture, and supporting companies that support the base is important to our entire city. Pratt & Whitney’s investment in our city, and in the jobs added with this new facility, is significant and appreciated,” Mayor Holt said.
The facility’s upcoming jobs will include salaries upwards of $80,000, primarily in engineering and procurement functions. The current Oklahoma City site is credited with employing more than 450 full-time employees, as well as an additional 450 partner contractors. The new facility will consolidate six existing sites into two locations: Pratt & Whitney’s Oklahoma City Sustainment Center and Tinker Air Force Base’s Air Logistics Complex.