June 16, 2003 -- GE's CF6-80C2 turbofan, the best-selling commercial engine in its thrust class, with some 90 million flight-hours logged on 11 different models of wide-body airliners, is assuming an increasingly prominent role in military aviation. Multimillion dollar orders have already been placed for CF6-80C2 engines for a wide variety of military applications.
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin Aerospace Company to begin delivery, next year, of CF6-80C2 propulsion systems for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) C-5 Galaxy Reliability and Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP). The RERP is part of the USAF comprehensive modernization plan to greatly reduce the fleet's operating costs, enable the C-5 Galaxy fleet to meet future heavy airlift requirements, and extend the life of the aircraft to at least 2040. Following the SDD phase, the production phase could call for upwards of 500 CF6-80C2 propulsion systems, plus service support, at a potential value of $2.6 billion to GEAE.
In addition, the U.S. Air Force has selected the CF6-80C2 to power the new Boeing airborne laser (ABL) aircraft, currently designated the YAL-1A Attack Laser. Built on an extensively modified 747-400 Freighter platform, the YAL-1A will be the world's first flying missile defense system, capable of shooting down theater ballistic missiles during the missiles' boost phase of flight.
In 2005, the Italian Air Force will begin taking delivery of four Boeing twin-engine 767 tanker transport aircraft powered by CF6-80C2 engines. Similarly, CF6-80C2 engines have been selected to power four 767 tanker transports of the Japanese Defense Agency (JDA). Upon entry into service, beginning in 2007, the tanker transports will share engine logistical and operational commonality with four Boeing E-767 AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft that have served in the JDA fleet since 1999. The 767 tanker transport is competing for a global market that Boeing has estimated may call for as many as 500 aircraft over the next 30 years.
"The military services' growing awareness of the advantages offered by adapting proven commercial engines and aircraft to serve certain missions provides real benefits to the respective service in terms of cost savings and reliable performance," said Rick Stanley, general manager of GEAE's CF6 Project. "We feel this is especially true in the case of our CF6 engines."
GEAE, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) is the world's leading manufacturer of jet engines for civil and military aircraft, including engines produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma Moteurs of France and GE. GEAE also manufactures gas turbines, derived from its highly successful jet engine programs, for marine and industrial applications. In addition, GEAE provides comprehensive maintenance support, through its GE Engine Services operation, for GE and non-GE jet engines in service throughout the world. Visit GEAE online at: http://www.geae.com.
Deb Case
GE Aviation
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1-513-243-0094
1-859-380-8463