GE Aerospace and Poland’s WZL-2 Sign Warsaw Memorandum to Establish F110-GE-129 Engine Support Hub for F-15EX

In a landmark move that strengthens Europe’s defense sustainment network, GE Aerospace and Poland’s Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 2 (WZL-2) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 29, 2025, in Warsaw. The agreement aims to develop local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and depot-level capabilities for the F110-GE-129 engine — the powerhouse behind the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II.

The MoU was signed by Jakub Gazda, CEO of WZL-2, Zbigniew Matuszczak, Member of the Management Board and Technical Director of WZL-2, and Sean Keith, F110 Product Director at GE Aerospace. The collaboration focuses on identifying the infrastructure, training, and technical requirements necessary to enable F110 engine sustainment directly in Poland.

A Strategic Leap in Regional Aerospace Capability

At the heart of this initiative lies the F110 engine family, a proven design with over 11 million flight hours and four decades of continuous production — an exceptional record in modern fighter aviation. The F110-GE-129, rated at 29,500 pounds of thrust, currently powers the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX and many F-16C/D Block 50 and 52 aircraft across the Middle East and Asia.

While European F-16s like those of Poland and Greece traditionally use Pratt & Whitney’s F100-PW-229, the new partnership signifies a shift toward supporting GE-powered fleets, especially as Poland prepares to play a growing role in F-15EX sustainment. Notably, Türkiye’s KAAN fighter prototype also flies with the F110, linking this project to future fifth-generation jet ecosystems.

Building Poland’s Aerospace Backbone

The roadmap under the MoU involves developing intermediate and depot-level MRO capacity within Poland, including investments in tooling, test cells, and technician training. Additionally, GE Aerospace is collaborating with the Military University of Technology in Warsaw to create an additive manufacturing lab for aero-engine components. This integration will turn Poland into not just a service center, but a knowledge and innovation hub for GE engines.

One of the core advantages of the F110 design is that up to 90% of its maintenance can be performed in-country through modular replacement. This capability will significantly reduce aircraft downtime and logistics costs, allowing for faster recovery of U.S. and allied aircraft deployed in Eastern Europe — especially near NATO’s Eastern Flank.

Strategic Impact: Reducing Dependence, Enhancing Readiness

By enabling WZL-2 to perform depot-level overhauls of the F110-GE-129, Poland gains a new level of strategic autonomy in aerospace sustainment. For the United States, this localization means faster repair cycles for jets operating from Baltic and Black Sea airspace — an operational necessity if U.S.-based depots become overloaded during crises.

For NATO allies, it ensures frontline resilience. Aircraft can now be serviced and returned to operation from within Europe, strengthening deterrence and readiness. This move also integrates Türkiye’s KAAN program into a broader NATO sustainment network, bridging current dependence on U.S. engines until a domestic powerplant is ready in the 2030s.

Comparative Advantage Over Other Engine Families

Unlike the Pratt & Whitney F100 or the F135 used on the F-35, the F110-GE-129 offers a decentralized, modular sustainment structure ideal for rapid European deployment. The F135 relies on a centralized global maintenance system, whereas the F110 model allows flexible, regional-level service nodes — exactly the model now being built in Warsaw.

This partnership creates a European sustainment pillar for one of the most versatile fighter engines in existence, bridging fleets from F-16s to F-15EXs and even KAAN.

Poland’s Growing Aerospace Ecosystem

Since 1992, GE Aerospace has invested over $700 million in Poland and employs more than 2,000 Polish specialists across six facilities. The new Warsaw MRO initiative further cements Poland’s position as a regional aerospace leader, transforming offsets into long-term industrial strength.

With this development, European air power takes a major step toward self-reliant sustainment. Locating F110 support on NATO’s Eastern Flank ensures that the alliance’s most powerful aircraft — the F-15EX, GE-powered F-16s, and future KAANs — can be maintained closer to the fight, faster than ever before.

The GE-WZL-2 partnership represents more than an industrial agreement — it’s a strategic shift in transatlantic defense logistics. By establishing a European engine support node, it enhances NATO’s operational readiness, reduces logistical dependency, and sets the stage for aerospace innovation that extends from legacy platforms to next-generation fighters.

In short, Poland’s new F110 MRO hub transforms the country from a user of Western technology into a pillar of its sustainment, strengthening both national defense and the collective security fabric of Europe.