Pratt and Whitney to expand military aircraft engine plant, invests $25 million

Pratt & Whitney is investing $25 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Niepołomice, Poland, to boost production of components for commercial and military aircraft engines. The Niepołomice site specializes in producing complex tubular assemblies and already manufactures precision components for several Pratt & Whitney engines. These include the GTF engine, which powers commercial passenger aircraft, the PW800 for business jets, and the F135, which powers all variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, according to a news release. “Poland plays a vital role as a key hub in Pratt & Whitney’s global engine production, a commitment further strengthened by our $125 million investment in facilities this year,” said Dariusz Stopa, general manager of Pratt & Whitney in Niepołomice. “Our employees in Niepołomice manufacture high-precision engine components that support commercial and military aircraft around the world,” Stopa continued. “Growing this team will increase our ability to meet global demand for advanced aircraft engines.” The $25 million investment, equivalent to PLN 95 million, is supported by the Polish government through the Polish Investment Zone Programme. Increasing production capacity The Polish Investment Zone, introduced under Poland’s 2018 Act on Supporting New Investments, allows businesses making new investments in the country to qualify for income tax exemptions. The program replaced Poland’s previous system of special economic zones. The Niepołomice project follows a $100 million investment announced by Pratt & Whitney in April to expand its operations in Rzeszów, Poland. According to an April 22 press release from RTX, Pratt & Whitney plans to construct a new facility in Rzeszów with specialized capabilities for processing isothermally forged parts, including heat treatment, sonic machining and inspection operations. The Rzeszów expansion will support the company’s GTF, F135 and F100 engines, according to the latest news release. Pratt & Whitney said the project, together with a $200 million investment in a seventh isothermal forging press at its Columbus Forge facility in Georgia, will enable a 30% increase in output of critical engine parts, including rotating compressor and turbine disks. Both projects are expected to be fully operational by 2028. “This investment reflects our continued commitment to increase production capacity for our customers and deliver more, faster,” said Piotr Owsicki, general manager of Pratt & Whitney in Rzeszów. “Expanding our presence in Poland allows us to build the strategic capabilities needed to produce key technologies for advanced commercial and military aircraft engines across both current and future platforms,” Owsicki added. More than 120 new jobs coming Poland represents RTX’s largest investment and employee base outside the United States, according to the news release, with more than 9,500 employees across its Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon businesses in the country. Pratt & Whitney’s Polish operations provide manufacturing and technology development capabilities for commercial and military engines, turboprops and auxiliary power units. Components manufactured in the country include the GTF fan drive gear system, F100 static structures and critical F135 parts. The latest $25 million expansion is expected to become operational in 2028, adding more than 120 jobs in Niepołomice as Pratt & Whitney increases production capacity for commercial and military engine components. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Originally from LA, Maria Mocerino has been published in Business Insider, The Irish Examiner, The Rogue Mag, Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, and now Interesting Engineering.