GE Aerospace has signed a contract worth up to $2.8 billion to provide engine parts for the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler combat aircraft.
The performance-based logistics deal covers support for 17 components of GE’s proprietary F414 afterburning turbofan technology.
Under the arrangement, GE will be compensated based on system readiness and parts availability rather than individual component purchases.
Work will run through August 2031 without option periods, with 90 percent of activities to be facilitated in Lynn, Massachusetts, and the remaining in Jacksonville, Florida.
Progress will be coordinated with the military’s Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which holds oversight of the contract.
The F414 System
GE Aerospace’s F414 propulsion system currently has over 1,600 units operational in eight countries. Since its introduction, the capability has logged more than five million flight hours internationally.
Among the engine’s key features are a six-module design that enables continuous repairs without major hardware redesigns, as well as an instant-throttle mechanism that eliminates acceleration delays.
The F414 inside the Super Hornet and Growler delivers a top speed of Mach 1.8 (1,381 miles/2,222 kilometers per hour), a service ceiling above 50,000 feet (15,240 meters), and a range of 1,275 nautical miles (1,467 miles/2,361 kilometers).
Supporting Hypersonics Testing
In addition to the award, the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit recently selected GE Aerospace to advance its liquid-fueled hypersonic test platform under the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities or HyCAT program.
Building on concept work started in 2023, this year’s phase focuses on integrating an all-up-round booster and cruiser system for component testing and future high-speed flight trials across the US Armed Forces.