Royal Australian Air Force takes delivery of first F414 engines

The first F414 engines for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) were shipped from Lynn to Boeing earlier this spring for installation on the F/A-18F Super Hornets.

In 2007 the RAAF ordered 54 F414-GE-400 engines for its 24 Super Hornets (through a Foreign Military Sales agreement with the U.S. Navy). Engine deliveries are scheduled to continue through 2010 for the RAAF, the inaugural international Super Hornet customer.

"This is a key milestone for us and our RAAF customer. GE has a long history working with the RAAF to support its fleet of F404 powered Hornets. We are looking forward to expanding our relationship with the delivery of the F414 powered Super Hornet," said Jim Caplan, F404/F414 Program Director at GE Aviation.

As of April 21, 11 F414 engines had been assembled, and tested and will subsequently be shipped to Boeing's facility in St. Louis where they are mated with the airframe.

The first RAAF aircraft will be in flight-test at NAWC China Lake while RAAF pilots will receive training at NAS Lemoore beginning early next year. The Super Hornets will then be ferried over to Australia beginning in March of 2010.

Under a 12-year TLS (Total Logistics Support) contract signed in late 2008, GE will provide comprehensive support for these engines for the projected life of the Super Hornet fleet as well as the F404 engines that power the RAAF F/A-18A/B Hornets.

Plans call for the aircraft to be delivered starting in 2010, with a fully operational Super Hornet squadron to be based at RAAF Base in Amberley in Queensland by 2012.

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 F414 has also been selected as the powerplant for growth versions of the Saab Gripen. In addition, the F414 is being considered for India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, KAI/LMTAS A-50 light fighter (a derivative of the T-50 advanced trainer) and other combat aircraft under development.