In 1978, the U.S. military’s F-14, F-15, and new F-16 fighter jets all relied on a single engine manufacturer — but it wasn’t GE Aerospace. The “Great Engine War” of the 1980s changed that, and it marked the beginning of GE Aerospace’s F110 engine, a powerhouse that continues to drive the world’s most advanced fighter jets.
With more than 11 million flight hours accumulated, the F110 now powers F-15s and F-16s in the U.S. military and across 16 allied nations. It has also been selected to power some of the newest advanced combat aircraft in the world. As the F110 celebrates 40 years of continuous production and improvement, it is enjoying a remarkable resurgence in demand.
Ramping Up Production
“We have been in continuous year-over-year production since 1984, and we are ramping production to meet strong market demand,” says Keith. Unexpectedly, production levels for the F110 are forecast to reach yearly levels not seen since 2009. This surge is largely driven by orders for highly advanced aircraft powered exclusively by the F110-129 engine, such as the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II purchased by the U.S. Air Force and Türkiye’s fifth-generation TAI Kaan.
The renewed interest in fourth-generation jets like the F-15 and F-16, alongside the arrival of fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35, has further fuelled the F110’s resurgence. GE Aerospace has secured nearly every F-15 and F-16 order placed in the past eight years.
Advanced Technology and Upgrades
Despite its long history, the F110 engine has evolved significantly. “We like to say it’s not your father’s F110,” says Keith. “A full 92% of the parts have undergone some type of design change — whether it’s a new material, a new coating, or an improved manufacturing or inspection process.”
The F110-129 and F110-132 variants feature Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) hardware upgrades, including advanced cooling technologies adapted from CFM International’s LEAP engines. These updates allow the F110 to perform in extreme conditions and improve engine availability, reducing life-cycle costs. Engine readiness has also been enhanced, with the F110 now boasting an industry-leading time on wing of 750 hours — a key indicator of engine reliability.
Future Capabilities
The F110 has already established itself as a combat-proven engine with few peers. Yet, GE Aerospace engineers are not resting on their laurels. A modified version of the F110 is currently undergoing a 6,000-cycle accelerated mission test at GE’s Evendale facility. Results are expected in 2025, and the testing aims to validate additional capabilities and durability improvements.
“The F110 likely has another 40 to 50 years of runway,” says Keith. “It has even more latent capability that could be tapped into if needed, including thrust, range, and horsepower extraction.” This continued evolution ensures the F110 will remain a cornerstone of military aviation for decades to come.
For Keith, the journey has come full circle. Having started his career at GE Aerospace as a turbine blade designer on the F110 program in 1990, he has witnessed firsthand the engine’s transformation over the years. “It’s been fun for me to be back where I started and to see how strong the engine is performing in the field and in its segment, with such a bright future,” he says. “Engine safety, performance, and reliability — these are the things that really have stood the test of time and made the F110 the engine of choice for our customers.”
