Pratt & Whitney Begins $100M F-35 Engine Expansion in Poland
Pratt & Whitney begins construction of a $100 million factory expansion in Poland to increase production capacity for F-35 and other aircraft engine components.
RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has started construction of a new $100 million aerospace manufacturing facility in Poland, expanding the country's role in the supply chain for F-35 fighter engines and other military aircraft propulsion systems.
Pratt & Whitney announced on October 23, 2026, that construction had begun on a new 6,500-square-meter facility at its Rzeszów manufacturing site in southeastern Poland. The $100 million (PLN 375 million) investment will introduce advanced production capabilities for critical rotating engine components, supporting growing demand for military and commercial aircraft engines.
The new facility will support components associated with the F135 engine powering the F-35 Lightning II fighter, the F100 military engine and Pratt & Whitney's commercial GTF engine family. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2028, with more than 120 new jobs expected.
Expanding Poland's Aerospace Manufacturing Capabilities
The Rzeszów facility already manufactures critical aerospace components, including F135 engine parts, F100 static structures and GTF fan drive gear systems. The expansion will introduce additional capabilities for processing isothermally forged components, including heat treatment, specialized machining and inspection.
Piotr Owsicki, general manager of Pratt & Whitney in Rzeszów, said the groundbreaking marks the transition from the investment announcement made six months earlier to construction, strengthening Poland's position within the company's global manufacturing operations.
The Polish investment is linked to a separate $200 million expansion at Pratt & Whitney's Columbus Forge facility in Georgia, United States, where a seventh isothermal forging press is being introduced. According to RTX, the two projects are expected to increase combined output of critical rotating engine components, including compressor and turbine disks, by approximately 30% when fully operational in 2028.
RTX Expands Its Polish Industrial Footprint
The Rzeszów project follows another Pratt & Whitney investment announced in September 2026, when the company committed $25 million to expand precision component manufacturing in Niepołomice, southern Poland.
Together, the two projects represent $125 million in announced Polish manufacturing investments during 2026, supporting the production of components for military and commercial aircraft engines.
Poland is RTX's largest investment and employment base outside the United States, with more than 9,500 employees working across its Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace and Raytheon businesses.
The expansion strengthens Poland's existing position in international aerospace supply chains, particularly in the manufacture of specialized components for advanced military propulsion systems.
