EVENDALE, Ohio -- The Turkish Air Force (TuAF) has ordered F110-GE-129B engines to power its 30 new Lockheed Martin F-16E/F aircraft. Value of the order, including 42 engines and support, is in excess of $180 million (US). Plans call for engines to be assembled at Turkish Engines Industry (TEI) starting in early 2011. 



"We are extremely pleased that Turkey, a longstanding F110 customer, continues to demonstrate confidence by selecting a GE-powered aircraft, and we are confident this selection will play an important role in the TuAF's modernization effort," said Al DiLibero, F110 general manager. 



With this order, Turkey is the largest F110/F-16 user -- other than the United States Air Force -- at 200 aircraft. 



The F110-GE-129B engine is the Service Life Extension Program configuration. The -129B incorporates the core of the CFM56-7 commercial engine (which powers the Boeing Next-Generation 737s), three-dimensional aerodynamic technology and improved flow path hardware to deliver a 25% improvement in cost-per-flying-hour and a significant time-on-wing increase. 



For more than two decades, GE's F110 engine family has been the best-selling engine for single-engine Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds worldwide and currently powers 70 percent of the F-16C/Ds in service worldwide. More than 2,500 F110 engines have been ordered since the engine was first selected by the USAF in 1984, with 1,100 powering the aircraft of 11 international forces. 



TEI is currently making numerous parts for the F110, plus components for a variety of other GE military, marine and commercial engines, including the GEnx. 



GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE also is a world-leading provider of maintenance and support services for jet engines.