Pentagon Ends GE, Rolls-Royce F-35 Contract

The Defense Department has terminated a contract with General Electric and Rolls-Royce to develop an alternative engine for the F-35 fighter jet, the department said Monday.

The budget deal recently passed by Congress contained no funding for the alternative engine.

The Pentagon has sought for five years to kill the alternative engine as an economy measure. United Technologies Corp unit Pratt & Whitney is building the primary F-35 engine.

(Editing by John Wallace)