SYDNEY, Australia - December 2, 2016 - The Australian Department of Defence today announced a $232 million contract extension to expand GE Aviation’s support of jet engines for the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) fighter fleet until 2025.
Under the contract, GE will provide engineering, supply and maintenance support for the 84 engines of Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft fleets. Australia’s Growler fleet is scheduled to enter service in 2017.
“We are extremely proud to support the RAAF and very pleased with the collaboration between our teams,” said Geoff Culbert, President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Australia, New Zealand & PNG. “It's a privilege to be able to bring our expertise to their operations.
Work in support of the contract will continue to be completed by GE and its partner, TAE Gas Turbines, a Queensland-based services company, at RAAF Base Amberley.
Director General Air Combat Systems, Air Commodore Greg Hoffmann congratulated the companies, and said the contract extension will see ongoing employment for over 40 workers in southeast Queensland, continuing what has been a successful partnership with the GE team.
"The engine support contract will be an essential element of the Super Hornet and Growler aircraft support base, with these aircraft providing us with an enhanced multi-role air combat and electronic attack capability to protect Australia's national interest," said Air Commodore Hoffmann.
GE currently provides total logistics support for engines powering the RAAF’s Classic Hornets and Super Hornets under a performance-based logistics (PBL) program. Since 2011, GE has met or exceeded program service and availability requirements, which are measured monthly.
This latest contract extension adds support for the engines powering Australia’s Growler fleet. The Growler is powered by the same engine as the Super Hornet, allowing GE to efficiently manage them as a common and interchangeable fleet.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines, components and avionics, digital solutions and electrical power systems for aircraft. www.geaviation.com/digitalsolutions
About GE
GE is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
Alma Dayawon