Aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney said Friday it plans a $255-million sustainment center in Oklahoma City, a hub for operations for all of its engines, including those for the F-35, C-17, F-22, F-15, F-16, B-52 and E-3 AWACS.

The 845,000-square-foot facility will be an expansion of Pratt & Whitney's operations near Tinker Air Force Base. Neither details of the project, to be developed over five years, nor of the property acquisition, were revealed.

Pratt & Whitney’s site here is part of a global sustainment network — complementing activity in Australia, Japan, Netherlands and Norway, and U.S. locations at Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida, and West Palm Beach.

"As the only site capable of performing all F135 power module scope levels, the new Oklahoma City Sustainment Center facility will increase the site’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities as the F135 program continues to expand," Pratt & Whitney said.

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What Pratt & Whitney does now in Oklahoma City and what to expect

Since 2014, Pratt & Whitney’s Oklahoma City F-135 Heavy Maintenance Center has been responsible for most F-135 maintenance work. The salaries for new positions, mostly in engineering and procurement, will be up to about $80,000 based on skills and experience, according to the company, a subsidiary of defense conglomerate Raytheon Technologies Corp. No future employment level was revealed.

Pratt & Whitney now has more than 450 full-time employees, plus as many contractors in engineering, data analytics, materials and logistics, quality and procurement. The new facility will allow the consolidation of six sites, into two locations: the new center and Tinker Air Force Base’s Air Logistics Complex.

“This is an exciting announcement for Oklahoma and our growing international dominance in the aerospace and defense industry,” Gov. Kevin Stitt said. “This $255 million investment in a world-class sustainment center helps strengthen Oklahoma’s position as the MRO capital (for maintenance, repair and overhaul) of the world, and I am thrilled for Pratt & Whitney to continue to invest and expand in our state.”

Oklahoma City plays a "critical" role in the manufacturer's global sustainment network, said Jill Albertelli, president, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.

“Last year, the team achieved record output for the F-117, F-119 and F-135 Heavy Maintenance Centers. This investment in a new facility will further expand our capabilities and reaffirm our commitment to our customer for years to come," she said.

The expansion "is a direct investment in improving our military’s ability to meet national security objectives,” said U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore. “This facility will play a particularly important role in rapidly delivering the F-135 engine core upgrade to the F-35 fleet, which is critical to ensuring all the services have the capabilities they need to fight an advancing threat starting in 2028.”

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Pratt & Whitney has deep ties to Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force Base

“Pratt & Whitney has a long history in Oklahoma City, and we congratulate them on this new facility, which enhances their efficiency and ability to serve the U.S. Air Force," Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said. "Tinker is a cornerstone of Oklahoma City’s economy and culture, and supporting companies that support the base is important to our entire city. Pratt & Whitney’s investment in our city, and in the jobs added with this new facility, is significant and appreciated.”

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber worked with Pratt & Whitney, the Oklahoma Industries Authority and Alliance for Economic Development, in developing the project, said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

“Pratt & Whitney has been a critical part of our business community for many years, and we look forward to a long relationship, working together to support their mission," Gillenwater said.

Pratt & Whitney presence in Oklahoma dates to the 1940s and the establishment of Midwest Air Depot, which became Tinker Air Force Base.

Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Defense contractor Pratt & Whitney announces big expansion in Oklahoma