Pratt & Whitney signed a ten-year agreement with Volvo Aero Norway to produce military engine shafts for Pratt & Whitney engines including the F135 powering the F-35 Lightning II and the F119 powering the F-22 Raptor. The contract has the potential value of $61 million USD. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

"This long-term agreement with Volvo Aero Norway illustrates our confidence in their ability and commitment to deliver high quality, reliable products for Pratt & Whitney fifth generation fighter engines," said Warren Boley, President of Pratt & Whitney military engines. "We are proud of our continuing relationship with Volvo Aero Norway, and we value them as a world-class producer of dependable, best value product for the F135 engine."

Volvo Aero Norway produces shafts for several Pratt & Whitney engines including the F100, F119 and F135 and produced all the shafts used during the highly successful F135 engine development program. These engine shafts are safety critical components which drive the engine's fan compressor allowing optimal engine performance, and are designed to withstand severe loads and torque. Volvo Aero Norway will also produce the intermediate case and diffuser case for the F135.

Ongoing discussions are being held between Pratt & Whitney and Volvo Aero Norway to expand the involvement on the F135 engine program with other components.

"We are very pleased with this agreement, which confirms our position as a shaft supplier and long-term partner for Pratt & Whitney," says Odd Tore Kurverud, CEO of Volvo Aero Norway.

"For more than 25 years, Pratt & Whitney has had a tremendous relationship with Norwegian industry, supporting the Royal Norwegian Air Force with the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine," Boley said. "The F135 powering the F-35 Lightning II offers another opportunity for decades of dedicated customer service and support between Norway and Pratt & Whitney."