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General Electric F414

General Electric Aviation · Aircraft Engine · USA · Modern (1992–2009)

General Electric F414 — Aircraft Engine
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The General Electric F414 is an afterburning low-bypass turbofan in the 22,000 lbf class, derived from the GE F404 by scaling the fan and core flow path up by roughly 14%. Service entry began in 1998 on the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the engine now also powers the EA-18G Growler electronic-attack aircraft, the Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen, and the Korean KAI KF-21 Boramae. More than 1,800 F414 engines had been delivered by 2026.

The F414 originated as the F412, a non-afterburning derivative planned for the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II carrier-based stealth attack aircraft. When the A-12 was cancelled in 1991, GE adapted the F412 core into the augmented F414 for the Super Hornet — a roughly 25% heavier aircraft that needed roughly 30% more thrust than the F404 of the original Hornet. The Super Hornet's airframe is large enough that two F404s would have been underpowered; two F414s give the F/A-18E/F the bring-back weight margin the U.S. Navy requires for carrier recovery with unexpended ordnance.

Architecture follows the F404 template scaled up: a 3-stage fan, a 7-stage high-pressure compressor, an annular combustor, a 1-stage high-pressure turbine, a 1-stage low-pressure turbine, and a fully variable convergent-divergent afterburning nozzle. The engine shares many parts with the F404 at the maintenance level, simplifying logistics for navies that operate both Hornets and Super Hornets. The standard F414-GE-400 produces 22,000 lbf with afterburner and around 14,000 lbf dry.

Several growth variants have been developed. The F414-EDE (Enhanced Durability Engine) added a 6-stage high-pressure compressor and improved hot section for 18% lower fuel burn at cruise. The F414-EPE (Enhanced Performance Engine) raises afterburning thrust by 20% to 26,400 lbf, marketed for future Gripen growth, Indian AMCA, and Super Hornet Block III. The F414-INS6 is the variant selected for the Indian HAL Tejas Mk2 and the HAL AMCA Mk1, with assembly transferring to HT Aero in India under a 2024 technology-transfer agreement.

Production continues at GE Aerospace's Lynn, Massachusetts plant, primarily for Super Hornet Block III deliveries to the U.S. Navy, EA-18G Growler attrition replacements, Saab JAS 39E Gripen exports to Sweden and Brazil, and Korean KF-21 Boramae production. The Tejas Mk2 and AMCA Mk1 will roughly double F414 output during the late 2020s. The successor for sixth-generation fighter applications is GE's XA102 adaptive-cycle engine, competing under the U.S. Air Force's Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion program.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The General Electric F414 is a jet engine used in some of the world's most powerful military planes. It makes about 22,000 pounds of pushing force, called thrust. That is enough to launch a heavy fighter jet off an aircraft carrier!

This engine first flew in 1998 inside the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The Super Hornet is heavier than the older Hornet, so it needed a stronger engine. The F414 gives about 30% more thrust than the older engine it replaced.

The F414 also powers other jets. These include the EA-18G Growler, the Saab Gripen E/F from Sweden, and the KF-21 Boramae from South Korea. More than 1,800 of these engines have been built and delivered by 2026.

The engine started life as a quieter design called the F412. That design was meant for a different jet that was cancelled in 1991. Engineers then upgraded it into the F414 by adding an afterburner, which gives a huge extra burst of speed and power.

Two F414 engines work together in the Super Hornet. They give the jet enough power to land back on a carrier even when carrying unused gear. The F414 is smaller than a school bus but delivers incredible force!

Fun Facts

  • The F414 engine makes 22,000 pounds of thrust — enough to launch a heavy jet off a ship!
  • This engine is smaller than a school bus but powers some of the fastest jets in the world.
  • More than 1,800 F414 engines have been built and delivered by 2026.
  • The F414 gives about 30% more thrust than the older engine used in the original Hornet jet.
  • The engine first started flying on jets back in 1998.
  • It began as a different engine design called the F412 before engineers added extra power features.
  • The F414 powers jets from three different countries: America, Sweden, and South Korea.
  • Two F414 engines together give the Super Hornet enough power to land safely on an aircraft carrier with gear still on board.

Kids’ Questions

What planes use the F414 engine?

The F414 engine powers the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler, the Saab Gripen E/F from Sweden, and the KF-21 Boramae from South Korea. That is four different jets from three different countries!

Why did the Super Hornet need a new engine?

The Super Hornet is heavier than the older Hornet jet. It needed about 30% more thrust to fly well and land safely on aircraft carriers. The older engine just was not strong enough for the bigger plane.

What is an afterburner?

An afterburner is a special part of a jet engine that adds extra fuel to give a huge burst of extra thrust. It makes the engine much more powerful for short bursts of speed. The F414 has an afterburner built in.

How many F414 engines have been made?

More than 1,800 F414 engines had been built and delivered by 2026. That is a lot of engines powering jets around the world!

Variants

F414-GE-400
Standard production variant for the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. 22,000 lbf afterburning, around 14,000 lbf dry. Two engines per airframe.
F414G
Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen variant. Functionally identical to the -400 but with single-engine bird-strike certification per Swedish requirements (the Gripen is single-engine where the Super Hornet is twin).
F414-EDE (Enhanced Durability Engine)
Growth variant with a 6-stage HPC and improved hot section, delivering 18% lower fuel burn at cruise. Demonstrator only, did not enter production but informs the EPE roadmap.
F414-EPE (Enhanced Performance Engine)
Growth variant raising afterburning thrust by 20% to 26,400 lbf. Marketed for future Gripen, Indian AMCA, and Super Hornet upgrades. Combines EDE hot section with additional fan and core refinements.
F414-INS6
Indian variant for the HAL Tejas Mk2 and AMCA Mk1. Includes incremental thrust improvements over the -400 and a path to licence assembly by HT Aero (HAL subsidiary) under a 2024 technology transfer agreement.
F412 (predecessor)
Non-afterburning derivative planned for the cancelled McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II. Provided the core architecture from which the augmented F414 was derived in 1991-1992.

Notable Operators

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (1999-present)
U.S. Navy Super Hornet primary powerplant. Two F414-GE-400 engines per airframe. Block II in service since 2005, Block III since 2021. Export operators include Australia and Kuwait.
EA-18G Growler (2008-present)
U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler airborne electronic-attack aircraft, derived from the F/A-18F. Two engines per airframe. Also operated by the Royal Australian Air Force.
JAS 39E/F Gripen (2019-present)
Saab Gripen E/F uses the F414G variant. One engine per airframe. Operators include Sweden and Brazil; on order for Colombia. Replaces the earlier RM12 F404 derivative used on Gripen C/D.
KAI KF-21 Boramae (2026-present)
Korean indigenous fighter, two F414-GE-400 engines per airframe. First batch entering service with the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2026. Indonesia is a partner customer.
HAL Tejas Mk2 / AMCA (in development)
Indian Tejas Mk2 and AMCA Mk1 fifth-generation fighter. Engine assembly to transfer to HAL/HT Aero in India under the 2024 GE-HAL technology agreement. First flights expected in the late 2020s.

Frequently Asked Questions

What aircraft use the GE F414?

The F414 powers the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler, the Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen, the Korean KAI KF-21 Boramae, and (entering service in the late 2020s) the Indian HAL Tejas Mk2 and AMCA Mk1 (GE Aerospace F414 page).

How much thrust does the F414 produce?

The standard F414-GE-400 produces 22,000 lbf with afterburner and around 14,000 lbf dry. The proposed Enhanced Performance Engine (EPE) growth variant raises that to roughly 26,400 lbf afterburning — a 20% gain — and is marketed for future Gripen, AMCA, and Super Hornet upgrades.

What's the difference between the F404 and F414?

Size and thrust. The F414 is a scaled-up F404, with a 14% larger fan and matched core scaling that raises afterburning thrust from 17,700 lbf to 22,000 lbf. The two engines share architecture (3-stage fan, 7-stage HPC, single-stage HP and LP turbines) and many parts at the maintenance level. The F414 fits in roughly the same external envelope as the F404, allowing the Super Hornet to use a Hornet-derived engine bay.

Why did Boeing pick the F414 for the Super Hornet?

The Super Hornet airframe is roughly 25% heavier than the original F/A-18C/D Hornet, and the U.S. Navy required a bring-back weight margin for unspent ordnance during carrier recovery (Navy Super Hornet fact file). Two F404s would have left the aircraft underpowered. GE's F414 — already derived from the cancelled A-12's F412 core — delivered roughly 30% more thrust per engine in the same envelope, meeting the Navy's bring-back requirement.

Is the F414 still in production?

Yes. GE Aerospace builds the F414 at its Lynn, Massachusetts plant for U.S. Navy Super Hornet Block III deliveries, Growler attrition replacements, Saab Gripen E/F exports, and Korean KF-21 Boramae production. Indian assembly under the 2024 HAL technology-transfer agreement will further expand the production base during the late 2020s.

What was the F412?

The F412 was a non-afterburning F414 predecessor developed for the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II carrier-based stealth attack aircraft. When the A-12 was cancelled in 1991, GE pivoted the F412 core into the augmented F414 for the Super Hornet. Without the A-12 cancellation, the F414 family might never have existed in its current form.

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