LYNN, Massachusetts - The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has awarded a 10-year, $601 million contract to GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) to provide hardware upgrade kits for 1,202 J85-5 engines powering the USAF fleet of 509 T-38 "Talon" supersonic jet trainers.The upgrade kits are being produced at GE's Lynn, Massachusetts, engine production facility, where the J85 engine family was first developed more than 40 years ago. Delivery of the upgrade kits is scheduled to begin later this year.The J85-powered T-38 is the USAF's primary pilot training aircraft. The J85 upgrade is part of an overall modernization program designed to continue the service life of the T-38 aircraft through 2040.The upgrade kit consists of an improved technology "spooled" compressor rotor and stator assembly, a single-piece cast mainframe, upgrade components for the high-pressure turbine section, an improved afterburner liner, and a new ignition system. The kit also includes a new exhaust ejector nozzle to achieve higher net thrust at takeoff and lower fuel burn throughout the aircraft flight envelope.The new eight-stage compressor rotor assembly, which can be readily installed, will sharply reduce engine life-cycle costs through improved durability and lower parts count, and by allowing individual blade replacement without rotor disassembly.GEAE estimates reductions in life-cycle costs from the upgrade kit, including significantly reduced maintenance hours, will exceed $500 million over the next 40 years."This is a huge win for the USAF and GE," said Tom Brisken, general manager of Military Engines Product Support at GEAE. "The collaboration over many years between the USAF and GE and its engine partners on this program has been outstanding."Key program participants were ALSTOM in the United Kingdom, which teamed with GE engineers in designing the compressor rotor assembly and Tusas Engine Industries (TEI) in Turkey, which contributed to the new ejector nozzle design.The J85 engine, which entered service in 1960, powers the T-38, F-5, T-2C, and A-37B. About 5,000 J85 engines are in active service and accumulate more than 900,000 flight hours annually powering aircraft in nearly 35 countries.