The U.S. Air Force and the Pentagon’s Defense Logistics Agency awarded a “performance-based logistics” (PBL) contract to GE Aviation to support F110, F101 and F118 engines. The five-year contract — reportedly the first awarded by DLA — is valued at more than $330 million, and covers the agency’s activities at the Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, and its consumable parts requirements worldwide.
Tinker AFB supports the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, DLA, and other DoD missions, and is one of the largest units in the Air Force Materiel Command. The complex performs programmed depot maintenance on numerous classes of military aircraft, and is responsible for maintenance, repair and overhaul for numerous Air Force and Navy airborne accessory components.
In its announcement, GE Aviation indicated it has already established a presence at Tinker AFB, with support personnel set to begin executing on the contract.
It agreed to improve parts availability to the USAF and reduce DLA’s inventory requirements.
Last month, GE Aviation secured a three-year PBL contract with the U.S. Navy for repair, replacement, and program support for F414 engine parts, for the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft — a contract reportedly worth $460 million.
The F110, F101, and F118 engines are related GE Aviation designs: The F110 is an afterburning turbofan jet engine, using the same engine core design as the F101. The F118 is a variant using a non-afterburning design. They are deployed in the F14, F15, and F16 fighter jets
DLA classifies the new contract as part of its “Captains of Industry” program, a designation for its partnership efforts with large commercial enterprises. In addition to the established terms, the contract provides a three-year option that could increase the total value to more $500 million.
“This groundbreaking deal strengthens our collaboration with the Air Force to ensure comprehensive and cost-effective solutions in support of the warfighter,” stated GE Aviation’s Matt Kress, general manager of military customer service programs. “We’re honored to work with the Air Force and look forward to leveraging lessons learned through our successful Navy PBL program developed over the past decade in Jacksonville.”
