EVENDALE, Ohio -- The Turkish Air Force (TuAF) has elected to perform the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) modification on F110 engines for its fleet of 169 F-16 aircraft. Value of the order, the first SLEP program to be sold internationally, is estimated at approximately $170 million (US).
"We are delighted that a longstanding customer such as Turkey is the first international customer to select the SLEP upgrade," said Al DiLibero, F110 project manager. "SLEP is an important ingredient in helping militaries predict their overall maintenance costs and concurrently maximize their missions."
The SLEP upgrade includes the core of the successful CFM56-7 commercial engine (which powers the Boeing Next-Generation 737s), three-dimensional aerodynamic (3-D aero) technology, and a redesigned flowpath with changes to the combustor and high-pressure turbine. These enhancements can help provide up to a 25% improvement in cost-per-flying-hour, a significant time-on-wing increase, and elimination of special inspections.
"We are confident the increased time on wing and enhanced durability provided by the SLEP package will benefit their F-16 fleet for years to come," said DiLibero.
The U.S. Government has awarded GE contracts totaling $220 million to upgrade more than 340 F110 engines for F-16C/D aircraft as part of its SLEP effort. GE and the government estimate a potential savings of SLEP to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) fleet of more than 800 F110 engines at approximately $1 billion.
SLEP concepts are also being identified for other engines, including the F101 for the B-1B and the F118 for B-2 and U-2S aircraft.
For more than decades, GE's F110 engine family has been the best-selling engine for single-engine Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds worldwide. More than 2,500 F110 engines have been ordered worldwide since the engine was first selected by the USAF in 1984.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE also is a world-leading provider of maintenance and support services for jet engines.