U.S. Secretary of Air Force Michael Wynne Recognizes Pratt & Whitney Leadership in New Engine Identification Initiative

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne toured Pratt & Whitney's East Hartford and Middletown operations today to recognize the company's implementation of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Unique Identification (UID) marking initiative. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company.

Pratt & Whitney began the UID marking program in January 2005, with data tracking on nearly 200 F119 engine parts, and is working toward UID marking on all of its military engine products. Government defense suppliers must deliver UID-compliant hardware by 2010.

"We are proud to be recognized for our leadership role in the UID marking initiative and look forward to supporting the Department of Defense in making the program a major success," said Steve Finger, Pratt & Whitney president. "We have experienced numerous measurable benefits as a result of implementing UID technology, including increased productivity and timely and accurate delivery of inventory data."

The UID marking initiative was signed into policy in July 2003 by then Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Michael W. Wynne, who also spearheaded this initiative. Current Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Kenneth J. Krieg, reaffirmed the DoD's support for UID by signing a policy update in February 2006.

The UID is a permanent two-dimensional barcode used to mark engine parts valued at $5,000 or greater and includes such parts as modules, rotating hardware, rotors, blades and vanes. Each two-dimensional barcode, a 2-D Data Matrix symbol, is able to store from one to 2,000 characters. The UID mark is decoded to produce a Unique Item Identification (UII) that stores engine hardware delivery records such as serial number, manufacturer, part number and the purchase contract.

Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F100 that powers the F-16 and F-15, the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II; F119 for the F-22 Raptor; F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III; J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, and KC-135 aircraft; TF30 for the F-111; PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and JT15 for the T-1A trainer and Pegasus UCAV.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

Jennifer Arsenault Pratt & Whitney 860.565.9600 jennifer.arsenault@pw.utc.com