Under a GE Total Logistics Support programme, the US Navy’s F414 after-burning turbofan aero engines will receive ‘prime logistics support’ in Australia, with selected repairs to be carried out on engine components using the expertise of GE and its Queensland-based partner TAE Aerospace.

While the US Navy traditionally undertakes its depot repair work at facilities in the USA in partnership with GE, the success of GE and TAE in supporting the RAAF F414 fleet over the past decade ‘encouraged consideration of a programme based in Australia’.

Repairs will be completed at TAE’s dedicated facility in Brisbane, and the first US Navy components were completed in August.

Al Dilibero, GE Aviation’s vice president of medium combat and trainer engines, said: “We are extremely proud to provide our highest level of support to the US Navy and are committed to ensuring our F414 engines continue to receive support that meets or exceeds the Navy’s requirements.

“This is the first time, to our knowledge, that F414 repairs have taken place outside of the USA and our intent is to grow the list of repairs and volume of US Navy work done in Australia where it makes sense.”

Andrew Sanderson, TAE Aerospace’s CEO, said the opportunity to complete the US Navy’s F414 engine component repair work was significant, both for the business and Australia’s aerospace sector.

“We have worked with GE Aviation for more than a decade in support of the RAAF F/A-18 engine fleets, and to now be able to apply our repair IP, skills and quality in support of the US Navy’s F414 engines is a great acknowledgement of TAE’s and Australia’s capabilities as a global aerospace maintenance provider.”

The framework established by GE that allows US Navy hardware to be sent to Australia could be broadened to expand the scope of repair work undertaken in Australia for the US military.