GE Aerospace and Magellan Aerospace Corporation have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Canada for the F414-GE-39E engine. The agreement is contingent upon the Government of Canada proceeding with the acquisition of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The partnership aims to ensure the Royal Canadian Air Force has access to in-country engine sustainment services to maintain operational readiness.

Under the terms of the MOU, GE Aerospace would provide training and license Magellan as Canada’s domestic center of excellence for engine sustainment. The MRO work would be conducted at Magellan’s Mississauga facility. This initiative is intended to build enduring sovereign aerospace capabilities, enhance operational readiness, and strengthen Canada's defense industrial base in line with the ‘build, partner, buy’ guidance of the Defense Industrial Strategy.

Key Details of the Agreement

The F414 engine, which powers the Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter, has logged more than five million flight hours. The engine features a six-module architecture designed for ease of maintenance and low life-cycle costs, with no scheduled overhauls and on-condition maintenance to maximize availability. More than 1,600 F414 engines have been delivered to eight nations.

AerCap Holdings N.V. has selected the GEnx-1B engine to power an additional 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest owner of Boeing 787 aircraft. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, AerCap currently owns and has on order a portfolio of approximately 200 GEnx engines. The selection underscores the engine's proven reliability and economic value for long-haul operations.

Mohamed Ali, President & CEO of GE Aerospace Commercial Engines & Service, highlighted the engine's performance, noting its proven reliability and time on wing. Aengus Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of AerCap, emphasized the need for platforms that deliver reliable performance and compelling economics, stating the GEnx engine supports their customers' evolving fleet requirements.

The GEnx engine boasts a 99.98% dispatch reliability rate and stays on-wing at a rate three times higher than competing engines. Over the last decade, GE Aerospace has upgraded the engine's high-pressure turbine blades and combustor coating technology, more than doubling time on wing in harsh environments. The GEnx-1B engine has surpassed the 50 million flight hour mark in just over 14 years, the fastest rate ever for a GE Aerospace commercial widebody engine.

Investment in Manufacturing

GE Aerospace is investing more than €110 million (approximately $127 million USD) across its European manufacturing facilities in 2026. Additionally, the company is investing $1 billion across its U.S. manufacturing sites and supply chain. More than $100 million is dedicated to enhancing supplier capabilities for programs like the GEnx engine. These investments focus on increasing engine production capacity, modernizing facilities, and strengthening the supply chain to meet high demand.

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