The Netherlands Ministry of Defense (MOD) signed a depot activation contract with Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. [UTX], to launch a maintenance, repair, overhaul, & upgrade (MRO&U) capability for the F-35’s F135 engine, the company said Monday.

The initial contract includes planning and management activities required for the MRO&U activation in 2019. Pratt & Whitney expects follow-on contracts with it and the F-35 Joint Program Office for support of the establishment of F135 depot capabilities. This includes assembly, disassembly, cleaning, inspection, and testing at the Logistics Center Woensdrecht.

The Marine Corps' F-35B. Photo: Lockheed Martin.
The Marine Corps’ F-35B. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

Logistics Center Woensdrecht conducts maintenance, logistics, and program management of weapon systems for the Dutch Armed Forces. It is currently responsible for the F-16, PC-7 training aircraft, CH-47 Chinook, AH-64 Apache, Cougar MRAP, and NH90 helicopters. The center also maintains aircraft parts, communications systems, and air traffic control equipment.

In December 2014 the U.S. Department of Defense assigned the Netherlands as a country where F135 maintenance will be carried out (Defense Daily, Dec. 11, 2014).

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Netherlands MoD for depot activation support for the F135 engine. As we prepare for an increase in F135 engine production, we need partners who demonstrate the high levels of technical capabilities that are required to support the F135 internationally. The Netherlands MoD’s participation in MRO&U will ensure we have robust sustainment capability in the European region,” Bennett Croswell, president, of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, said in a statement.

Air Commodore Mario Verbeek, Commander of the Logistics Center Woensdrecht, cheered the contract.

“After the Netherlands engine MRO&U assigned by the US DoD, the MRO&U standup contract is the next important step toward the Netherlands’ goal to provide Pratt & Whitney and the F-35 operators with world class F135 MRO&U services by the end of 2019,” Verbeek said.

The Netherlands is one of the nine original partner countries for the F-35. As such, it is a contributor to the development, production, and sustainment of the program. Netherlands’ program of record is currently set to procure at least 37 F-35A aircraft. The Dutch Parliament approved an order for eight F-35As in March 2015. This confirmed it will be the official replacement for the F-16s in the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

The lot of eight F-35s is set to be delivered in 2019.

The F-35 is produced by Lockheed Martin [LMT].