EVENDALE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The United States Air Force (USAF) has selected GE Aviation for negotiations to mature a suite of technologies to include variable cycle technology for the Adaptive Engine Technology Development (AETD) program. AETD will enable GE to address the USAF's propulsion needs for improved fuel burn to provide combat aircraft in the beyond-2020 timeframe with significantly enhanced range, performance and thermal management capabilities. Development work will be conducted at GE Aviation's headquarters in Evendale, Ohio. Once negotiations are complete and the contract is awarded, GE will share the costs of the program with the Air Force.
The AETD contract maintains a competitive engine technology environment
for future Air Force combat aircraft. AETD focuses on maturing
technologies developed through the USAF's ADaptive Versatile ENgine
Technology (ADVENT) program, which GE Aviation was competitively awarded
in fiscal year 2007. Technologies demonstrated through ADVENT that will
be validated by AETD include an innovative adaptive three-stream fan,
third stream-cooled cooling air, and ceramic matrix composite (CMC)
materials, resulting in improved power extraction, thermal management
and inlet recovery while reducing installed drag.
Phase 1 of the AETD program, which runs through mid-fiscal year 2015,
includes completing preliminary engine design, testing a full annular
combustor rig, high-pressure compressor rig and components using CMCs.
Phase 2 of the program, which will conclude in fiscal year 2016,
consists of fan rig testing and a full engine core test, allowing for a
notional first full engine test as early as 2017.
"We are proud to continue to serve the warfighter in the combat segment
and we believe these technologies will provide a new generation of
propulsion far superior to current-day systems," said Jean
Lydon-Rodgers, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation's
Military Systems Operation. "AETD technologies are being proven today
through GE's ADVENT program, which will result in up to a 25 percent
improvement in fuel efficiency and 30 percent improvement in operating
range compared to state-of-the-art engines."
Click HERE
to watch a 1-minute video on GE's ADVENT testing progress.
Click HERE
to see how GE manufactures CMC materials.
GE Aviation has developed variable cycle technology for more than 30
years, beginning with the YF120 for the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter
project and continuing today with the ADVENT program, which will
conclude in 2013 after full engine testing. GE's adaptive engine
approach has internal variable features that adjust bypass ratio and
pressure ratio to optimize operation for a wide range of flight
conditions.
The AETD program is designed for future strike, bomber and tactical
aircraft.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading
provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems
for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE
Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For
more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50411039&lang=en
Rick Kennedy
GE Aviation
[email protected]
+1 513 243 3372
+1 513 607 0609