Pratt & Whitney gives final F119 engine

(WTNH) -- For more than a decade Pratt and Whitney has turned out engines for the Air Forces' F-22 Raptor for the Air Force. On Thursday Pratt delivered its final F119 engine to the Air Force, marking the end of one phase of work but the beginning of another.

It is the high tech engine that powers one of the most sophisticated fighter jets in the sky, the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor.

It's the engine that powers the jet that military pilots can't say enough about.

"I can assure you from the war fighter perspective, we are extremly lethal in the F-22. The speed and the stealth and the ranges that we can employ ordinance to kinematics that we pass on to missles and bombs that we employ, exceptionally lethal," said Col. Kevin Fesler a US Air Force Pilot.

Pratt has been building the F119-PW-100 turbo-fan for the Air Force for twelve years.

On Thursday, number 507, the last one to be delivered was in the spotlight on stage surrounded by the workers that made the dream of this super engine a reality.

"Now, you've given us 507 of those that will ensure the skies are safe from enemy fire and our men and women are free on the ground from enemy fire for years and years to come," said Col. Gregory Gutterman of the F-22 Program, US Air Force.

The end of the F119 program is an economic hit to Pratt.

In December the company blamed 80 lay-offs and 20 other workers taking buy-outs on the termination of the program but Pratt officials say the company looks forward to decades more working with the Air Force on maintaining the F119 engines that are now in use.

They called Thursday's ceremony bittersweet.

"But it is a day we look to the future for the 119 and the F-135 that proceeds it," said Bennett Croswell of Pratt and Whitney.