General Electric Co. has been awarded a contract for the full-rate production of F414 engines in support of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft, according to an 30 July statement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

The DoD has announced that General Electric Co. is awarded USD10,5 million firm-fixed-price-advance acquisition contract for long-lead materials items for the full-rate production of Lot 23 F414-GE-400 engines in support of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft of the U.S. Navy.

Work on the contract will be conducted by General Electric Co. in Lynn, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed in December 2019.

Earlier it was reported that General Electric Co has received a USD37 million contract for the repair, replacement, and program support of 773 F414 engine, the Department of Defence (DoD) said on 2 July.

According to GE Aviation, the F414 Enhanced Engine is delivering expanded capabilities for next generation combat needs. With up to 18% more thrust and twice the horsepower of its predecessor, the F414 Enhanced Engine is poised to complete missions on time and on task.

The F414-GE-400 combines the proven reliability, maintainability and operability of its successful F404 predecessor with advanced technologies to provide the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with up to 35 percent more thrust and significant improvements in aircraft performance, survivability and payload.

Its simple, modular design is reliable and easy to maintain. F414-GE-400 engines also power Boeing’s EA18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, also operational with the United States Navy. The F414-INS6 was selected by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to power the MKII version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

The F414G, the single-engine variant of the proven F414-GE-400, has been chosen to power Saab’s Gripen E/F aircraft