GE’s ‘Green’ Engine Looks to Add Efficiencies for Military JetsMay 20, 2011
 General Electric and Rolls Royce are partners in pushing to build an alternate jet engine for the next generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, but they are adversaries when it comes to building a new efficient “green” engine, according to an article by The Boston Globe. Rolls Royce did not respond to the publication’s questions about its green engine program, but GE had a lot to say because of the Pentagon agreement to fund GE Aviation with $255 million to demonstrate an engine for the Air Force’s ADVENT program. The program, meant to build a new engine technology that uses less fuel, is still in early stages. GE’s contract for the demonstration is through 2013, according to the article. The contract may open doors for GE, a crucial development after the company lost the Pentagon’s support to develop an alternate engine for the F-35. "Seems to work out where everyone gets their piece of the pie sooner or later," said William C. Storey Jr., president of the Virginia-based Teal Group, a market research and analysis company. "t pretty much gives them the inroads into continuing their military engine business, especially if the [alternate engine] does finally die." Today, there remain only a handful of companies capable of designing and producing the technology the Pentagon requires. The result: Even if a company loses one contract, it has a great chance to win the next one, according to the experts interviewed by the Globe. If GE successfully produces an engine with greater efficiencies, the technology could become the standard on military jets with a potential to impact commercial aviation. “If the ADVENT engine demonstrates the technology breakthroughs as we hope, this program will influence every engine GE develops and manufactures going forward,’’ Jeff Martin, GE Aviation’s manager for the program, said in a written response to Globe's questions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class James Richardson) |
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