Hermeus to manufacture Pratt & Whitney's F100-PW-229 engine under new production licensing agreement
RTX’s Pratt & Whitney licenses Hermeus to build F100-PW-229 engines, adding a new U.S. source and supporting Quarterhorse aircraft scaling.
Rhea-AI Summary
RTX (RTX), through its Pratt & Whitney business, has signed a Production License Agreement authorizing defense aviation company Hermeus to manufacture the F100‑PW‑229 fighter engine, one of the U.S. military's most widely fielded propulsion systems.
The deal creates a new qualified production source for the F100 engine and is intended to expand U.S. production capacity to meet growing demand. Hermeus will build the engines using its rapid-build production model while meeting Pratt & Whitney standards for quality, safety and site activation. The F100 also powers Hermeus' Quarterhorse aircraft, which achieved supersonic flight earlier this year as a privately developed unmanned jet.
Positive
- Production license creates a new qualified source for F100‑PW‑229 engines
- Agreement is intended to expand U.S. fighter engine production capacity
- Hermeus gains in-house propulsion manufacturing to scale its Quarterhorse aircraft
- F100 engine has accumulated over 32 million flight hours, indicating extensive field use
- RTX reports 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, underscoring its scale
Negative
- None.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Agreement accelerates Quarterhorse aircraft production and expands
"With more than 32 million flight hours, the F100 has earned its place as one of the world's most trusted fighter engines," said Jessica Villardi, vice president of Fighter & Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney. "By partnering with Hermeus, we are expanding
Pratt & Whitney's F100 engine powers Hermeus' Quarterhorse aircraft, which achieved supersonic flight earlier this year—making it the world's first privately developed unmanned supersonic jet. The F100 has powered the
"Meeting future operational needs requires expanding America's capacity to build the engines our warfighters rely on," said Zach Shore, CEO of Hermeus. "Pratt & Whitney built the standard for fighter propulsion. By becoming a licensed manufacturer of the F100, Hermeus expands domestic engine capacity for the broader defense industrial base and becomes the first vertically integrated airframer with the in-house propulsion capability required to scale Quarterhorse."
About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units for military, commercial and civil aviation customers. Since 1925, our engineers have pioneered the development of revolutionary aircraft propulsion technologies, and today we support more than 90,000 in-service engines through our global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.
About RTX
With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than
For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact corporatepr@rtx.com.
About Hermeus
Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.
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SOURCE RTX