Lockheed Martin and Airbus have selected GE Aerospace’s CF6-80E1 propulsion system for the LMXT strategic tanker.
The LMXT is Lockheed Martin’s solution for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 recapitalization plan and is built on the combat-proven design of the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).
“America’s tanker fleet will play a critical role in meeting future mission requirements. This means the LMXT must use capable and proven technologies, such as the MRTT strategic tanker and GE Aerospace’s CF6 engine,” said Greg Ulmer, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “This partnership with GE further demonstrates how the LMXT will strengthen and diversify the critical U.S. tanker industrial base.”
GE’s CF6 family powers nearly 70% of the world’s wide-body aircraft; the engine encompasses more than 50 years of aircraft propulsion history. GE’s CF6 engine first entered service in 1971, with a history of service on major commercial and military platforms such as the Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy. GE has delivered more than 8,500 CF6 engines to date, powering ten unique commercial and military aircraft with 25 variants.
The LMXT team has selected the CF6 engine for its proven durability, reliability, and performance. Designed specifically for the A330, the CF6-80E1 variant boasts technological advancements, including nearly 70,000 pounds of thrust and 15% greater fuel efficiency compared to its predecessors.
The production of GE’s CF6 engine for the LMXT is expected to create more than 3,000 direct and indirect American jobs, including in highly skilled advanced manufacturing, engineering, and testing. In addition, the LMXT’s engine production alone will incorporate work in more than 25 states.
“The LMXT strategic tanker is the optimal aircraft for GE’s CF6-80E1 engine. Developed exclusively for the A330, the unmatched CF6 engine offers a combination of outstanding reliability, durability, and time on the wing, all of which are critical requirements for a military tanker,” said Amy Gowder, president and CEO of GE Aerospace’s Defense & Systems business. “GE Aerospace is proud to join longtime partners Lockheed Martin and Airbus on the LMXT.”
