RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has broken ground on a new $100 million manufacturing facility in Rzeszów, Poland, to expand production capacity for military aircraft engines amid growing global demand.
Announced in April, the project will support manufacturing requirements for Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engines, which power the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, and its F100 engine family, used in the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon fleets.
The new facility will add approximately 6,500 square meters (69,965 square feet) of manufacturing space to the company’s existing industrial complex in southeastern Poland.
Expanding Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Capabilities
Pratt & Whitney’s Rzeszów operations already support the production and development of propulsion technologies for both military and commercial aviation. Existing activities include manufacturing powerplants, fan drive gears, turboprops, and auxiliary power units.
The site also produces propulsion systems for rotary-wing aircraft, business jets, and commercial passenger aircraft. These include the PT6, PW200, PW500/600, and PW800 engine families.
The new investment is expected to strengthen the facility’s role in the aerospace and defense supply chain while expanding its capacity to support military engine production.
RTX Expands Its Investment in Poland and the United States
According to RTX, the Rzeszów project represents its largest investment and workforce expansion outside the continental United States. The company already employs approximately 9,500 people across its Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon, and Collins Aerospace businesses in Poland.
The initiative complements a separate investment announced in February involving a seventh isothermal forging press at Pratt & Whitney’s manufacturing facility in Columbus, Georgia. The US project forms part of a broader investment programme valued at approximately $200 million.
Together, the Polish and US manufacturing expansions are expected to increase production of critical engine components by approximately 30%. These components include rotating compressors and turbine disks, which are essential to aircraft engine performance and reliability.
Facilities Expected to Become Operational in 2028
Both the Rzeszów facility and the new forging capabilities in Georgia are scheduled to achieve operational capability in 2028.
The investments reflect Pratt & Whitney’s efforts to expand manufacturing capacity, strengthen its industrial footprint, and respond to increasing requirements for advanced propulsion systems. By expanding production in Poland and the United States, RTX aims to reinforce its engine manufacturing network and support long-term demand across military and commercial aviation markets.
