US Navy Hires GE Aviation for Aircraft Maintenance

GE Aviation has been awarded a three-year (2015-2017), $460 million Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Navy covering the repair, replacement and program support for F414 engine components for the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

This multi-year procurement arrangement is an availability-based contract providing operational readiness requirements for the F414 fleet through the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Centers West (Lemoore, CA) and Southeast (Jacksonville, FL.).

This contract builds on the success of a series of previous F414 PBL contracts dating back to 2002.

In addition to the Lynn plant, GE Supply Chain facilities in Hooksett, NH; Rutland, VT.; Wilmington, NC; and Madisonville, KY will provide parts for this PBL contract.

Twin F414 engines power F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers. The F414 engine for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G is rated at 22,000 pounds (98 kN) thrust and is in the 9:1 thrust-to-weight ratio class. The U.S. Navy has taken delivery of over 1,000 F414 engines with more than 1.5 million engine flight-hours accumulated to date.

The F414 has also been selected as the powerplant for growth versions of the Saab Gripen and India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), and is a candidate for other combat aircraft under development.

Press release, Image: US Navy