CaliToday (16/9/2025): Pratt & Whitney, a business unit of RTX, has secured an $18 million engine sustainment contract from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
The agreement provides for the continued maintenance and support of the TF33 engines that power the alliance's fleet of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
The three-year contract includes an option for a two-year extension and underscores NATO's ongoing reliance on the E-3 platform for critical aerial surveillance, command and control, and battle management across the alliance's areas of operation.
"NATO's TF33-powered E-3 aircraft have been instrumental in supporting air, land, and sea operations for over 40 years, providing the 32 member nations with airborne surveillance, real-time situational awareness, and battle management," said Jessica Villardi, Vice President of Fighter and Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney.
"Our integrated engine sustainment approach will help maximize fleet readiness for years to come," Villardi added.
The TF33-PW-100A engine has powered the E-3 Sentry since its inception in the 1970s. While the airframe has undergone numerous upgrades over the decades, the engines remain a critical component ensuring the aircraft's operational capability.
According to the company, the new contract will cover a comprehensive materiel management program, including parts forecasting, procurement, and technical support. The objective is to ensure NATO's E-3s continue to meet operational requirements despite the increasing age of the airframes and engine systems.
Support work will be conducted at multiple locations, including NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany, as well as depots in Turkey and Greece. Additional work will be performed at Pratt & Whitney's facility in East Hartford, Connecticut.
The E-3 Sentry aircraft, based on the Boeing 707 airframe, continues to serve as NATO's primary airborne command and control platform, enabling the delivery of a real-time operational picture that integrates with the alliance's air, ground, and naval forces. Its distinctive rotating radome has become a symbol of the alliance's airborne surveillance capabilities, particularly in Europe and along its eastern flank.
The sustainment of these aircraft comes at a time of heightened tensions in Europe, as NATO nations bolster their deterrence posture in response to Russian aggression and ongoing instability along the alliance's periphery.
