RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada marks a significant milestone achieved by the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). The RSAF’s Pilatus PC-21 training fleet of 54 aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines, has surpassed 100,000 flight hours. The Pilatus PC-21 is a turboprop-powered advanced trainer with a stepped tandem cockpit. It is manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The PC-21 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop engine of 1,600 shaft horse power, which drives a five-bladed graphite scimitar propeller manufactured by Hartzell; it has been claimed by Pilatus that the PC-21 possesses speed and climb rates previously normally performed only by jet-powered aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business. With this milestone, the PT6 engine family is firmly established as the benchmark turboprop platform, supporting demanding military, training, and general aviation missions worldwide.
“The PT6A engine has powered commercial and defense aircraft around the world for decades, offering customers versatility and reliable performance,” said Anthony Rossi vice president, Customer Service, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “The Pilatus PC-21 plays a critical role in advanced military pilot training, and our long-standing work with the RSAF to support this fleet will enable safe, reliable and mission ready operations.”
Pratt & Whitney Canada has an established and growing presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, supporting customers through long-term collaboration, local capabilities, and regional engagement. The business remains focused on strengthening its footprint in the region by investing in people, infrastructure, and sustainable industrial initiatives aligned with national and regional development objectives. Through its global support network, Pratt & Whitney Canada provides comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) solutions, technical expertise, and customer support to help ensure mission readiness and long-term fleet performance for operators worldwide.
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units for military, commercial and civil aviation customers. RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation, is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitalization, as well as one of the largest providers of intelligence services. RTX manufactures aircraft engines, avionics, aerostructures, cybersecurity solutions, guided missiles, air defense systems, satellites, and drones. The company is a large military contractor, getting much of its revenue from the U.S. government.
