The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has issued a request for information seeking industry input on alternative fighter engine production for the F-15EX Eagle II and F-16 Fighting Falcon, including support for US and foreign military sales demand. The move is aimed at companies that can develop, produce and sustain engines across multiple production bands, with responses due by 28 August 2026.
The procurement review comes as the service confronts production delays, quality-control issues and supplier obsolescence in the current engine industrial base. It also reflects a longer-term forecast that combined domestic and export demand could exceed 180 engines a year by fiscal 2034, increasing pressure to secure broader manufacturing capacity.
The notice seeks evidence of pricing, scalability, sustainment support and qualification timelines for both aircraft types. For the Air Force, the test is not only whether new entrants can build engines, but whether they can maintain output and support over time across a more resilient supply chain.