A 1 Squadron F/A-18F Super Hornet. (Defence)

The federal government has signed a $232 million contract extension with GE to provide sustainment for F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler engines for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has announced.

Under this contract, GE is set to provide engineering, supply and maintenance support for 84 engines until June 2025. Work in support of the contract will continue to be completed by GE and Queensland aerospace company TAE at RAAF Base Amberley.

“We are extremely proud to support the RAAF, and very pleased with the collaboration between our teams,” said Geoff Culbert, president and chief executive officer of GE Australia, New Zealand & PNG. “It is a privilege to be able to bring our expertise to their operations.”

GE currently provides total logistics support for the engines that power the RAAF’s Hornets and Super Hornets under a performance-based logistics program. Since 2011, GE has met or exceeded program service and availability requirements, which are measured monthly, the company stated.

This contract extension adds support for the Growler’s F414-GE-404, which also powers the Super Hornet, allowing GE to manage these engines as a common and interchangeable fleet.

The 12 Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft will be based at Amberley.