$44.2M to GE for F-16s’ F110 Engine Upgrades
Nov 29, 2009 15:24 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
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General Electric Aviation in Cincinnati, OH received a $44.2 million contract modification to provide redesigned High Pressure Compressor (HPC) and High Pressure Turbine (HPT) assemblies, redesigned Aging Engine Upgrade (AEU) components, initial provisioning spares, and new technical data to support the Service Life Extension Plan (SLEP) and AEU initiatives to keep the US F-16 fleet’s F110 engines running.
DID has more coverage of orders placed under this contract.
The GE F110 was developed as an engine alternative to Pratt & Whitney’s original F100, and has since become popular in F-16s due to its higher thrust. Most of the USAF’s current F-16 fleet currently flies with F110 engines.
GE Aviation estimates that the F110 SLEP can extend F110 engine power through 2025.
Using technology from GE’s commercial engine programs, SLEP is upgrading F110 components such as the combustor, high-pressure turbine, compressor and augmentor. The program is designed to provide a 20% improvement in non-recoverable in-flight shut down (NRIFSD), 25% improvement in cost-per-flight-hour, and a 50% extension in engine phase inspections. The USAF States Air Force anticipates more than $1 billion in savings over the life of the SLEP, notes GE.
F110 engines currently power approximately 70% of the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D aircraft and have been selected for use on the Boeing F-15.
The 448 SCMG/PKBC at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma manages the contract (FA8104-05-C-0053, P00017).
