RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney plans to invest $200 million to expand its Columbus, Georgia, manufacturing site, adding new equipment to boost output for both military and commercial engines.
The investment will fund a seventh isothermal forging press, expected online in 2028, to produce critical rotating compressor and turbine disks.
The press could increase production of these parts by approximately 30 percent, supporting the geared turbofan (GTF) family and the F135 fighter engine, among others.
This expansion follows a $70 million project at the adjacent Columbus Engine Center, which added 81,000 square feet (7,525 square meters) for maintenance, repair, and overhaul, raising GTF engine service capacity by 25 percent.
Meeting Rising Engine Demand
The Columbus site, located roughly 90 miles south of Atlanta, supports both defense and commercial programs.
It maintains GTF engines for the Airbus A320neo, A220, and Embraer E-Jets E2, while servicing F117 and F100 engines used in the C-17, F-15, and F-16.
Columbus Forge produces compressor airfoils and turbine disks for multiple engine programs, including the F135, which powers the F-35 Lightning II.
The expansion comes amid growing demand for narrowbody aircraft and sustainment services.
To date, over 2,600 GTF-powered aircraft have been delivered globally, and more than 1,300 F135 engines have been produced for international F-35 operators.
The Columbus site employs more than 2,600 workers and has received over $1 billion in cumulative investment since 2008.
