GE Aerospace’s XA102 Aviation Engine Passes Detailed Design Review

GE Aerospace completed the detailed design review (DDR) for its XA102 adaptive-cycle engine, presenting the digital engine model to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to validate its readiness for the next development phase. The XA102 engine was developed with model-based systems engineering, representing a shift in how advanced propulsion systems are designed and tested for the USAF’s future fleet.

Following DDR completion, GE Aerospace will begin the next contract phase to procure, assemble, and test a XA102 full-scale demonstrator engine. Adaptive-cycle engines deliver increased range and improved thermal management capability over current combat engines. These advantages ensure that U.S. combat aircraft maintain their superiority on the global stage.

“GE Aerospace is making strides with model-based engineering, which has been instrumental in the success of the XA102 engine design,” said Dr. Steve Russell, Vice President and General Manager of Edison Works at GE Aerospace. “As we transition into the procurement and build phase, we will continue to incorporate this approach while working closely with our supply chain partners to advance the engine toward a full-scale demonstration.”

XA100 engine during testing; image credit: GE Aerospace

NGAP Program

This engine development supports USAF’s Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, which advances the technologies and manufacturing capabilities critical to operating within future combat environments. These technologies will enable next-generation fighter aircraft with improved survivability and thermal management of advanced weapons and sensors.

Under this program, the XA100 engines successfully completed numerous rounds of testing, which matured adaptive engine technologies. The XA102 engine, in addition to its enhanced combat and propulsion capabilities, maintains a focus on affordability and sustainability.

Turboshaft Engines

In January 2025, the Polish Armed Forces ordered 210 T700 helicopter engines from GE Aerospace to power 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardians. The turboshaft engines will be built and delivered under a contract with the U.S. Army through the government’s Foreign Military Sales process. In June 2024, the U.S. Army awarded GE Aerospace an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract for the continued production of up to 950 T700 engines to support Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Foreign Military Sales, and other government agency program requirements through 2029.

The T700/CT7 turboshaft and turboprop engines power 15 types of military and civilian helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, obtaining over 130 customers in upwards of 50 countries. In addition, more than 25,000 T700/CT7 engines have been delivered and accumulated over 130 million total flight hours. The engine design has operated in numerous harsh environments, logging millions of flight hours in dangerous, mission-critical combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. In Europe, more than 1,300 T700/CT7 engines have been delivered or ordered for 20 military and para-military customers.

And in November 2024, GE Aerospace, Boeing, NASA, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory agreed to develop an Open Fan engine design model. Engineers will simulate flight conditions to study the aerodynamics of a wing-mounted Open Fan engine. Simulation enables the design to achieve more efficiency, increased performance benefits, and lower noise levels.

Open Fan designs lack the traditional jet engine casing, permitting a larger fan size with reduced drag and improved fuel efficiency. Previously, GE Aerospace modeled the performance and noise levels of Open Fan engine parts with exascale computing. Increased computational power allows the replication of a full-size integrated engine and aircraft in the design phase.