The US Navy has awarded a performance-based logistics (PBL) contract to GE Aviation for repair, replacement and programme support on F414 engine components for the F / A-18 E / F and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

The $460m multi-year procurement agreement will provide operational readiness requirements for the F414 fleet at the navy’s fleet readiness centres West and Southeast.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our successful collaboration with the navy."

GE F414 / F404 PBL director Scott Snyder said: "We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our successful collaboration with the navy to provide a comprehensive, integrated and cost-effective solution, ensuring F414 readiness for our customer."

GE’s Lynn plant and facilities in New Hampshire, Vermont, North Carolina, and Kentucky, US, will deliver parts for the contract.

Powering the navy’s F / A-18E / F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, the twin F414 engines are rated at 22,000lbs thrust and are in the 9:1 thrust-to-weight ratio class.

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1,000 F414 engines have been delivered to the US Navy so far, with more than 1.5 million engine flight-hours accumulated.

The F414 engine has also been selected to power higher versions of the Saab Gripen and India’s light combat aircraft (LCA), in addition to other combat aircraft currently under construction.

GE is producing new designs and hardware for the F414 enhanced durability engine, which aims to provide better thrust and durability.