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General Electric F414

The General Electric F414 is an afterburning turbofan engine in the 22,000 lb_f (98 kN) thrust class and is produced by GE Aviation. The F414 was developed from GE's highly successful F404 turbofan.

Development

GE evolved the F404 into the F412-GE-400 non-afterburning turbofan for the A-12 Avenger II. After the cancellation of the A-12, the research was directed toward an engine for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The F414 uses the core of the F412 and its full-authority digital engine control (FADEC), alongside the low-pressure system from the YF120 engine developed for the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition.

Upgrades

Recognizing that the F/A-18E/F will assume new roles and missions over its lifetime, as well as face an uncertain and ever changing threat environment, GE designed the F414 with thrust growth potential to meet these anticipated needs. Already envisioned for the F414's first growth step was a 10% thrust increase.

As of 2006, GE has tested an Enhanced Durability Engine (EDE) with an advanced core. The EDE engine can provide a 15% thrust increase or longer life without the thrust increase. It has a six-stage, high-pressure compressor and an advanced high-pressure turbine.

GE has tested the new high-pressure compressor and a two-stage advanced fan. These components with the advanced core could yield 20% increase in thrust over the current F414.

The final growth step would produce an engine with 30% more thrust than the F414 - just under 29,000 lbf (130 kN). This thrust level is nearly equal to the F110 Increased Performance Engine. To reach this impressive thrust level will demand further airflow growth from the fan, a modest temperature increase, a new two-stage low pressure turbine and a new afterburner.