Trump Fires Rhetorical Missile at Pratt-Powered F-135 Fighter Jet

EAST HARTFORD, CT ― Donald Trump in a Monday tweet took a shot at the F-35 fighter jet program. Pratt & Whitney engines are the propulsion system of choice for the next-generation planes.

"The F-35 program and cost is out of control," Trump tweeted. "Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th."

The president-elect did not elaborate on what he wants done.

According to the Defense Department's 2017 fiscal year budget, the federal government was to spend $10.1 billion for F-35s. That is 43 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps and four F-35Cs for the Navy, according to the government.

In July, Pratt, a United Technologies Corp. division, received a $1.5 billion contract from the Defense Department to build more F135 engines for the F-35 combat jet program. The deal will include a total of 99 engines as well as program management, engineering support, spare modules and spare parts.

In addition to Pratt itself being a large north central Connecticut employer, aerospace subcontractors are spread all over the area.

A Pratt representative declined comment.

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, a House Armed Services Committee member, said, "We are continuing to evaluate the situation."

Photo Credit: Pratt & Whitney