FARNBOROUGH -- General Electric Company's F110 and F404/F414 fighter engine families have successfully powered combat aircraft since the 1980s. Infused with new technology and backed by hours of experience, these programs are enjoying unprecedented success as customers are increasingly relying on a growing range of platforms to satisfy near-term mission demands.
F110 Engine Family
More than 2,800 F110 engines have been ordered worldwide since initial selection by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1984, making it the best-selling power for Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighter aircraft. In addition to the USAF, 10 international forces fly F110-powered aircraft. The Turkish Air Force, GE's biggest F110 customer outside the USAF, has recently signed a Letter of Agreement for 30 new F110-GE-129B-powered Advanced Block 50 aircraft. Engines will be assembled at Tusas Engine Industries, Inc. in Eskisehir, Turkey.
The latest generation of GE F110 engines, the F110-GE-132, delivered to the United Arab Emirates, produces up to 32,500 pounds (145 kN) of thrust. Thanks to a new blisk fan configuration, the F110-GE-132 has fewer parts and higher airflow.
F110 engines are also enjoying strong momentum in the twin-engine F-15 arena.
Over the past 12 months, the Royal Saudi Air Force has selected F110 engines to re-engine its Boeing F-15S aircraft. Combined agreements call for 140 installed F110-GE-129C engines and a logistics support package, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2008. In selecting the GE engine, the RSAF cited the F110's durability in a harsh operating environment, safety and reliability, and cost-effective operation.
The government of Singapore recently ordered additional F110-GE-129C engines to power 24 new F-15SG aircraft. The -129C model incorporates GE's Service Life Extension (SLEP) hardware, which includes highly successful three-dimensional aerodynamic (3-D aero) technology derived from the CFM56* engine plus upgrades to the combustor and high-pressure turbine. These enhancements can provide up to a 25 percent improvement in cost-per-flying-hour, and a significant time-on-wing increase.
Other countries that have selected the SLEP option include Bahrain, Israel, Japan and Turkey. The USAF is currently retrofitting the SLEP package on its F-16 fleet. The SLEP upgrade has exceeded expectations for both reduced cost-per-engine flight-hour and increased time-on-wing criteria. GE and the USAF estimate the potential savings of SLEP to a USAF fleet of 800 F110 engines at approximately $1 billion.
F404/F414 engine family
One of the most versatile engines in military aviation history, more than 4,000 F404 engines power F/A-18 Hornets of the U.S. Navy (USN) and Marine Corps (USMC), USAF F-117 Stealth Fighters, as well as Hornets of the air forces of Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain, and Switzerland. F404 derivatives also power fighter platforms in the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Korea, Singapore, South Africa and Sweden.
With more than 900,000 flight-hours, the F414 engine continues to exceed USN goals for reliability and time-on-wing. F414-powered F/A-18E/F Super Hornets have continued to expand their presence in the USN fleet, with 23 active squadrons available for carrier deployment. To date, more than 800 F414 engines have been delivered, supporting more than 330 aircraft.
Gripen Next Generation: The F414G powered the Saab Gripen Next Generation aircraft to a successful first flight in Sweden in May. A single-engine variant of the proven F414-GE-400, the G model delivers more than 20% more thrust than the current F404/RM12 engine, enabling added performance, range and payload. The F414 contains a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), and advanced materials and cooling techniques for improved performance and life. Aircraft demonstration and flight testing will continue beyond 2010.
F-18 Growler: The first EA-18G Growler for the USN fleet, powered by F414 engines, was delivered to the USN in June. More than 200 F414 propulsion systems are expected to power 90 EA-18G aircraft, with deliveries expected to continue through 2014.
Derived from the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G will serve as the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Its highly flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array of AEA missions and operate from either the deck of an aircraft carrier or land-based fields.
India LCA: F404-GE-IN20 engines powered the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to successful first flight in June. More durable in design, the highest-thrust engine in the F404 family is designed to meet mission capability with extended life. In 2006, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ordered 24 F404-GE-IN20 afterburning engines to power the first operational squadron of Tejas fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, following a 2003 purchase of 17 F404-GE-IN20 engines to power a limited series of operational production aircraft and naval prototypes.
T-50 Golden Eagle: Twenty-five T-50 aircraft powered by F404-GE-102 engines have been deployed for full mission utilization for more than two years and have provided smooth, reliable operation throughout the envelope. GE has delivered more than 50 of planned 96 kits to Samsung Techwin (STW), with STW delivering engines to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) through 2011. T-50 International (formed by KAI and Lockheed Martin) continues to market the aircraft to several potential export customers.
Performance Based Logistics
In February, the USN announced its decision to purchase a Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from GE for the F414-GE-400 turbofan engine, covering repair and parts for both engines and modules. This Fleet Support PBL contract, in conjunction with the 2006 multi-year PBL award for F414 depot component repairs, provides a comprehensive, integrated and cost-effective readiness approach for the USN.
With an earlier order for 24 F414-powered F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, Australia became the first international customer for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and concurrently announced the intent to sign the first international F414 PBL agreement. Australia is also looking at combining F414 and F404 PBLs for its Hornet fleet.
Other potential PBL opportunities span a wide range of applications and engines, including F110, F404, J85 and T64.
Advanced Programs
GE continues developing advanced versions of the F414, including an Enhanced Performance Engine (EPE) that can provide a 20% increase in thrust and an Enhanced Durability Engine (EDE) for extended component life at current thrust levels.
The latest F414-based advanced technology demonstrator engine has completed a test program that utilized a two-stage, all-blisk (integrated blade and disk) fan, an advanced six-stage high-pressure compressor (HPC) and a new high-pressure turbine (HPT) design. The engine ran to 100% of maximum steady-state core speed and successfully completed all program objectives during more than 20 hours of testing.
The new fan design incorporates 3-D aero, forward-swept airfoil technology, which provides higher airflow, improved efficiency and reduced parts count compared with current F414 fans. The ongoing demonstrator program also included validation testing for high-cycle-fatigue design methods, and foreign object damage-tolerant fan and compressor airfoil designs.
Technical Advancements
GE has been selected to develop technology for the Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology (ADVENT) program for the United States Air Force Research Laboratory, which will demonstrate technologies critical for a comprehensive range of next-generation aircraft and missions. Phase I, which will run through FY 2009, will include preliminary and detail engine design as well as risk-reduction testing. The ADVENT program will lead to full demonstration of several variable-cycle technologies, as well as advanced component and fixed cycle system technologies, which will provide a spectrum of capability enhancements for a wide range of both subsonic and supersonic mission types. Benefits include a significant improvement in range/fuel burn for all applications as well as reduced signature, higher thrust-to-weight, and increased power extraction at all thrust levels.
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.
* CFM and CFM56 are trademarks of CFM International, a joint company of Snecma, France, and General Electric Co., USA