Courtney, Larson Release Statement on JSF Engine Program

U.S. Reps.John Larson (D, 1st District) and Joseph Courtney (D, 2nd District) have released the following statement on General Electric’s decision to terminate its self-funded, F136 alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter:

“General Electric is a tremendous American company who has provided us with unique innovation for over a hundred years. As difficult a decision as this was, in these pressing economic times, GE made the right one.

“The F135 engine manufactured by Pratt & Whitney is a successful engine and we look forward to seeing the completion of this project and watching the F-35 in action for years to come.

“We also look forward to continuing to work with General Electric, who produces the lion’s share of engines for our nation’s military aircrafts.”

East Hartford-based Pratt had been recognized as the official engine-maker for the fighter jet for some time, even though Fairfield-based GE had been developing an alternate engine for the program.

A second engine had been cut from the defense budget, but GE had been funding the alternate program itself.