GE Aerospace recently marked a significant milestone with one of its key customers, celebrating a 15-year anniversary of the Total Logistics Support (TLS) contract with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). This long-term Engine Sustainment contract was initially launched for the F414powered Australian Super Hornet engines in the early 2000s. The anniversary event took place at RAAF Base Amberley, the home of the supersonic, twin-engine multi-role F/A-18 Super Hornet that was first delivered in the spring of 2009.
Leaders from GE Aerospace, alongside their longstanding regional partner TAE Aerospace, met with RAAF officials led by Wing Commander Damien Hare. Rita Flaherty, Vice President of Sales & Business Development at GE Aerospace, presented the RAAF with a commemorative award and a challenge coin minted for the occasion.
Flaherty says, “The RAAF sought a comprehensive Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) support structure, while maximizing Australian Industry Participation (AIP). GE, as the OEM, partnered with regional Engine MRO specialist TAE to achieve this objective, making this the first all-encompassing military services contract.”
The TLS contract provided top-tier support for the "Classic" Hornet's F404 engine fleet and continues to support the Super Hornet's F414 engine fleet. Key innovations of the contract include bundling support for both the F404 and F414 engines under one agreement to maximize efficiency. This contract also marked GE Aerospace first long-term commitment for defense engine sustainment and solidified a lasting partnership with Australian company TAE. TAE provides warehousing, logistics, maintenance, engine testing, and in-country engineering support for both the "Classic" Hornet's F404 engine and the Super Hornet's F414.
These service standards enabled GE Aerospace to consistently deliver high-level support despite changes in the RAAF fleet. In 2016, the RAAF expanded its capabilities with 12 EA-18G Growlers, derived from the Super Hornet, which added electronic attack capabilities, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support. The TLS contract was extended to cover the Growler's F414 engines, increasing the RAAF's F414 fleet by over 50%.
Last year, GE Aerospace launched its TrueChoice Defense portfolio of service offerings, including Total Logistics Support, tailored for military operators. TrueChoice Defense meets diverse customer needs and operational priorities with unparalleled service and support, optimizing engine performance and fleet availability while managing costs and reducing financial risks.