More than 7,000 Pratt & Whitney military engines are in service with 34 armed forces worldwide, powering tactical, strategic and mobility aircraft. The 5th Generation F135 for the F-35 fighter is the most powerful and most advanced fighter engine in the world. The F135 evolved from the proven F119 engine and offers the same operational pedigree with proven stealth capabilities. “In fact, we saw the F135 powered F-35s in action for the first time in India as they flew over the skies of Bengaluru during Aero India 2023,” says Ashmita Sethi, president and country head, Pratt & Whitney, India (UTCIPL).
Adding: “We are proud to power today’s most advanced mobility and tactical aircraft, and we are advancing engine technology to provide the next generation of engine technology for tomorrow’s defense needs.”
In an exclusive interaction with Financial Express Online ahead of the 91st Air Force Day later this week, Ashmita Sethi, president and country head, Pratt & Whitney, India (UTCIPL) says: “We currently power nearly 90 aircraft for the Indian Air Force – from the PT6A powered 75 PC-7s to the 11 F117 powered Boeing C-17 Globemasters. In fact, with the 56 twin PW127G powered Airbus C295 aircraft that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will induct over the next few years, Pratt & Whitney will truly be the engine power supporting the Indian Air Force’s transport fleet modernization.”
Following are excerpts:
You mentioned that the PW127Gs will power the C295, could you tell us more about that engine and its capabilities?
The PW127G engines power the C295, which is a proven platform and is globally recognized as the next generation of light & medium transport and Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) aircraft. The PW127G comes from the PW100/PW150 family of engines that has a legacy of excellence. The PW127G is extremely versatile, dependable and efficient. It delivers lower fuel burn during cruise which enables exceptional range and endurance for time-critical missions.
We have significantly honed the dispatch reliability of our engines to industry leading performance, and they are able to fly on command, increasing response times. We are confident that the PW127G will enable the incoming C295 fleet to fly vital missions for the Indian Air Force in service of India’s 1.3 billion citizens.
The PW127Gs belong to the PW100/150 family. Is that family of engines available for commercial applications as well?
Yes, in fact, the PW100/PW150 engine family is the most popular choice for regional turboprop aircraft, powering 90% of the world’s aircraft fleet in the 30-90 passenger configuration. It powers a variety of aircraft across diverse missions and roles that include regional commercial airline service, firefighting, aerial surveillance, cargo, humanitarian services, and civil defense.
In India, the PW100/150 family powers nearly 90 ATR 42/72 and Q400 aircraft for airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet and Alliance Air. It is the backbone for Indian government’s UDAN vision in regional aviation segment. With a strong, dependable legacy of connecting people and growing regional economies, this family of engines is now ready to defend freedom as well. We have a strong on-ground presence with skilled teams to support these engines – and that will help ensure mission readiness for the IAF.
Do other engines on IAF’s Pratt & Whitney powered aircraft have commercial applications as well?
The F117 which powers the IAF’s C-17 Globemasters is a derivative of the commercial PW2000 engine family, and the PW127G belongs to the versatile PW100/150 family. Same goes for the PT6 family as well – that engine family has a wide variety of applications in India, ranging from IAF’s PC-7s and King Air B200 to Carvans and PC-12s for business and general aviation. The PT6T variant powers Bell 412, AW109 and AW139 helicopters as well.
Commonality across military and commercial applications allows us to not only build efficiency for these platforms, but also dependability. The learnings and advancements in an engine platform or family can be incorporated and applied across its wide suite of applications, including military. This helps with operational efficiencies and sustainment as well.
Embraer has pitched the C-390 Millenium to the Indian Air Force for its Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) needs. Pratt & Whitney powers that platform?
Embraer’s C-390 Millennium is a versatile aircraft powered by the dependable V2500-E5 engine. Delivering 31,000 pounds of reliable, efficient, and clean thrust, the V2500 enables the C-390 to conduct cargo and troop transport, aerial refueling, and disaster relief missions. The V2500’s robustness also enables the C-390 to take-off and land from unpaved runways as well. These features will be key in enabling evolved operational capability for the Indian Air Force, especially when operating from high-altitude airfields in the northern regions of India.
The V2500 has a strong existing legacy in-country – it helped revolutionize private aviation when IndiGo ordered more than 100 V2500 powered A320neos in the mid-2000s. The engine has delivered on efficiency, world-class durability, extended time on wing and versatility for commercial air travel in India and continues to deliver even today – including flying cargo missions for Pradhan Air Express’ A320-200P2F.
With its history of performance in India and an existing support network for the engine – the V2500 will deliver on IAF’s mission and capability needs, if the C-390 is selected.
There is a push for indigenization and MRO in India? What is Pratt & Whitney’s perspective?
Pratt & Whitney is aligned to the government’s vision for developing India’s aerospace & defense capabilities – and we have made deep investments in the country. Our flagship investment was the India Customer Training Center in Hyderabad, which incidentally is capable of training engineers and field service representatives on the V2500 platform – that powers the C-390. We recently made a combined $40 million investment in the India Engineering Center (IEC) and the India Capability Center (ICC) in Bengaluru.
We have been working with Indian suppliers for over a decade in machining and assembly – and we have sourced nearly $55 million in the past 10 years from India from leading aerospace suppliers. We have also sourced over $500M in Engineering Services into India over the past two decades. We aim to expand our sourcing in India – and expect it to reach nearly $150M annually by 2030.
Beyond that, we have partnered on indigenous platforms – powering the NAL Saras MK I with the PT6 engine, and our APUs power the Netra AEW&CS based on Embraer E145J by providing ground power and bleed air, and power to its critical mission equipment. We remain open to exploring MRO interest in India, at the right time, but that would be based on many factors including business case, competitive labor and import of parts.
Pratt & Whitney is a RTX business, and with an Indian workforce of more than 5,000 people – RTX is one of the country’s largest exporters in aerospace and defense from India.