LYNN, Mass -- The F414 Turbofan Program celebrated delivery of its 1,000th production engine today, capping a decade of providing power to a growing range of applications and demonstrating critical technologies that deliver significant increases in mission capability.
"We look at this milestone as a tribute to the past ten-plus years, as well as a springboard for future technical innovation," said Tony Mathis, vice president and general manager of the Lynn Turbofan Department. "We are pleased with the track record we have compiled to date, and we look forward to continuing to produce one of the most versatile and reliable powerplants in military aviation history."
The F414-400 engine (22,000 lb/fn) has achieved an outstanding record of performance to date. With more than 1 million engine flight-hours of experience in Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler aircraft, the F414 continues to exceed United States Navy (USN) goals for reliability and time on wing. The USN plans to purchase more than 1,200 engines, including spares, to power 594 twin-engine F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Individual F414 high-time production engines have accumulated 3,800 EFH.
In addition to operation with the USN, the F414-400 engine is now operational with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The first five F/A-18E/F Super Hornets arrived in Australia on March 26 with 19 additional aircraft planned for delivery through 2011.
The F414G, a single-engine variant of the F414-GE-400, delivers 20 percent more thrust for the Gripen Next Generation aircraft than previous powerplants. The NG Demonstrator first flew in May 2008 and has completed more than 100 flights, exhibiting excellent operability and performance in both subsonic and supersonic operation.
In anticipation of evolving and more demanding requirements, the F414 family is continuing on an ambitious growth path to increase thrust, improve durability and satisfy environmental considerations. The Enhanced Durability Engine (EDE) is focused primarily on durability improvement and life-cycle cost savings for the USN customer, while the Enhanced Performance Engine (EPE) - with increased thrust - is targeted for potential international customers.
The EDE incorporates an advanced high pressure turbine (HPT) and six-stage high pressure compressor (HPC) that offers a 2-3X hot-section durability gain and reduced fuel consumption, which could equate to a $1-2 billion savings over the life of the USN fleet. The EPE includes EDE improvements plus a new fan for greater airflow, resulting in a 20 percent thrust improvement and greater operational flexibility.
Demonstrator versions of both the EDE and EPE have been successfully run, laying the groundwork for a USN-funded specific fuel consumption (SFC) reduction effort. This initiative, geared toward developing near- and long-term energy strategies, is aimed at showing a 3 percent SFC gain compared with the current F414-GE-400 configuration. An F414-powered Super Hornet operating on a biofuel blend successfully flew in April 2010 -- the first tactical USN aircraft to use a biofuel blend.
GE is also working with the USN to develop a retrofittable noise reduction kit for the F414 that features chevron exhaust nozzle technology. These nozzles have serrated edges where each "lobe" penetrates into or out of the primary flow and generates a secondary flow, significantly reducing jet noise. To date, results show a 2-3-decibel noise reduction -- or about half the sound energy. The USN has identified funding for a program to further test and mature the technology to prepare it for incorporation in the USN F414 fleet, with work scheduled to continue through 2011.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.