LE BOURGET - Component technology development work at GE Aircraft Engines is under way for the F414 Enhanced Durability Engine (EDE), a program designed to bring greater durability and performance, and reduced life-cycle costs, to the F414 engines powering the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.To date, the Navy has ordered 284 Super Hornets as part of a long-range procurement plan to purchase 548 aircraft. The Navy plans to procure a total of 1,096 F414-GE-400 engines, plus spares, to power the Super Hornet. As the growing fleet of F414-powered Super Hornets performs with tremendous success since entering operational service in 2000, GE has been working on advanced technologies to infuse into the core of the F414 engine.The EDE program leverages U.S. government and GE funded science and technology development activities to enhance the F414 compressor, combustor, and high pressure turbine. In addition to providing built-in thrust growth capability, the new technologies will provide savings in engine total ownership costs of $1 billion for the U.S. Navy over a 20-year period through significantly increased parts life and lower maintenance costs. GE seeks to make these enhancements available for future production F414 engines, as well as for retrofit into the existing Navy F414 fleet, beginning in the 2007/2008 timeframe.The EDE package includes a three-dimensional aerodynamics (3-D aero) high-pressure compressor and high-pressure turbine, as well as a lower-emission combustor. The new compressor will improve airflow and efficiency, while increasing time between overhauls from 4,000 to 6,000 hours. The 3-D aero turbine will provide more efficiency and high-temperature capability, while increasing time between overhauls from 2,000 to 6,000 hours."GE has been pursuing technologies to enhance the F414 engine since 1994," said George Bolln, F414 and F404 Project general manager. "Ultimately, our goal has been to establish a solid plan for realizing dramatic savings for the U.S. Navy."GE is working closely with the Navy to pursue future funding to test the new 3-D aero compressor and turbine in a core engine in 2002, as well as to map out the total requirements necessary to fully qualify the F414 EDE with the core improvements.F404: The F414 is derived from GE's F404, the world's most ubiquitous fighter engine. More than 3,700 F404 engines have been delivered, powering the aircraft of several military services worldwide, including the F-117 Stealth Fighters of the U.S. Air Force and the F/A-18 fighter/attack aircraft of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps and other governments worldwide. F404 derivatives also power Singapore's A-4SU Super Skyhawk and Sweden's JAS 39 Gripen. South Africa has 28 Gripens on order, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2005.Earlier this year, GE completed initial testing of the F404-102 engine for yet another application: the Air Force of the Republic of Korea's single-engine T-50 trainer/combat aircraft. The F404-102 is a variant of the F404-402 with specific single-engine application reliability and redundancy features. A new control system with an advanced, F414-based full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) is also incorporated. GE is supporting Korea Aerospace Industries which, in association with Lockheed Martin Corporation, is developing the trainer/combat aircraft.GE is on contract for the full-scale development program, which includes engineering development (such as the successful altitude testing completed earlier this year) and flight test engines. The flight test program is slated for 2002, followed by launch of the production engine program in 2003. First deliveries of the F404-powered T-50 are scheduled for 2005.