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CFM International Awarded Contract to Procure P-8A Poseidon CFM56-7B27AE Engine for South Korea

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CFM International Awarded Contract to Procure P-8A Poseidon CFM56-7B27AE Engine for South Korea

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CFM International Inc., West Chester, Ohio, is awarded a $14,643,783 modification (P00028) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract. This modification exercises an option to procure one P-8A Poseidon CFM56-7B27AE engine for the government of Korea. CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aviation, a division of General Electric of the United States, and Safran Aircraft Engines (formerly known as Snecma), a division of Safran of France. Work is expected to be completed in July 2022. Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $14,643,783 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

In May 2013, it was announced that the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was commencing US$929.13 million (in 2017) procurement program to acquire up to 20 new ASW aircraft to replace the Republic of Korea Navy’s fleet of 16 P-3Cs. On 26 June 2018, it was announced that the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) had selected the P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission mission aircraft (MMA) and would acquire six aircraft through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. On 13 September 2018, the US state department stated it supported the sale of 6 P-8s and notified Congress. Derived from the Boeing 737-800 commercial airliner (but with 737-900 wings), the P-8A Poseidon has been built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, GE Aviation, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Spirit AeroSystems.

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CFM International CFM56 series of turbofan engines
CFM International CFM56 turbofan engine

CFM International was formed to build and support the CFM56 series of turbofan engines. The CFM International CFM56 (U.S. military designation F108) series is a French-American family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International (CFMI), with a thrust range of 18,500 to 34,000 lbf (82 to 150 kN). Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own final assembly line. GE produces the high-pressure compressor, combustor, and high-pressure turbine, Safran manufactures the fan, gearbox, exhaust and the low-pressure turbine, and some components are made by Avio of Italy and Honeywell from the US. The engines are assembled by GE in Evendale, Ohio, and by Safran in Villaroche, France.

The completed engines are marketed by CFMI. Despite initial export restrictions, it is the most common turbofan aircraft engine in the world, in four major variants.With more than 33,000 delivered to date, CFM56® engines mainly power single-aisle commercial jets from Airbus and Boeing. The CFM56®, developing 18,500 to 33,000 lb of thrust, set a standard in this market.The reliability and endurance of the CFM56® are just as appreciated in military applications. For example, the U.S. Air Force is CFM’s leading customer, deploying more than 2,500 CFM56 engines. The British and French air forces also operate a number of CFM-powered aircraft. In particular, these engines power the KC-135 and C-135FR tankers, the E-3 and E-6 AWACS and early warning aircraft, the Boeing 737 AEW&C, C-40 transports and the P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

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