US Air Force seeks fixes for F-15EX and F-16 engine supply bottlenecks

The US Air Force has issued a business notice asking industry for input on fixing ongoing bottlenecks in engine production for the F-15EX, built by Boeing, and the F-16, built by Lockheed Martin.

The notice, published August 3, says the service is planning a multi-year engine procurement effort. Demand is projected to reach more than 180 engines annually by fiscal year 2034. The current industrial base has shown significant problems, according to the notice, including production delays, quality control issues, and diminishing sources for critical components and materials.

The Air Force said it plans to run a competition among suppliers to encourage manufacturing innovation and ensure the resilience of the supply chain supporting fighter propulsion for both US and foreign military sales customers. Officials described the effort as a performance-based competition meant to secure the industrial base and improve readiness for units flying the aircraft.

The service is also asking companies to identify the biggest risks to increased engine output. Examples cited include constraints on specialized titanium and nickel alloys and limited capacity for advanced casting and forging processes.

As part of the initiative, the Air Force wants delivered engines to reduce instances in which aircraft are grounded for missing parts, a condition the service calls Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts. The notice frames the effort as addressing fleet-wide sustainment issues, not just production volume.

No timeline for a formal contract award was specified in the material reviewed.