Sydney, Australia -- GE has been awarded a 12-year Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the Australian Department of Defence for F404 and F414 engines powering the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) F/A-18A/B Hornet and soon-to-be-acquired F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft.
This F404/F414 total logistics support contract covers all aspects of logistics, intermediate and deeper maintenance, and engineering support for the remaining life of the F/A-18 Hornet fleet and the projected life of the F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet. The performance-based contract structure will benefit from a combination of U.S. and Australian capabilities to ensure engine availability for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Key partners for GE in the execution of the contract include Tasman Aviation Enterprises (TAE) based in Amberley QLD, Goodrich Customer Services Asia Pacific based in Sydney, and the U.S. Navy Fleet Readiness Center Southeast based in Jacksonville FL.
"We're pleased to expand our successful relationship with Australia and collaborate to ensure the optimum fleet readiness of all ADF F404 and F414 engines," said Tony Mathis, GE's Turbofan/Turbojet Department General Manager.
Currently, the RAAF flies over 70 F404-powered Hornets, which were delivered starting in 1984. Hornets continue to serve as a front-line aircraft for the RAAF, having flown more than 500,000 engine flight-hours.
In March 2007 Australia announced its decision to procure 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, powered by twin F414-GE-400 turbofan engines. Engine deliveries for this order will begin in 2009 and plans call for the first Super Hornets to be delivered to Australia in 2010, with a fully operational RAAF Super Hornet squadron by 2012. With this order, Australia became the first international customer for the F414-powered Super Hornet.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.