Support Equipment

GE Aerospace F404

Also known as
  • General Electric F404
  • F404 engine
  • F404-GE-400
  • F404-GE-402
  • F404-GE-103
  • F404-GE-102
  • F404-GE-IN20
  • F404/RM12
  • RM12

The GE Aerospace F404 is a U.S. afterburning turbofan family for fighter and advanced trainer aircraft, with GE-documented applications across the F/A-18C/D Hornet, HAL Tejas, Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, Saab Gripen, KAI/LMTAS T-50, and HÜRJET programs. GE reports more than 4,000 F404 engines delivered, more than 13 million fleet flight hours, and dedicated single-engine derivatives such as the F404-GE-102, F404-GE-103, F404-GE-IN20, and Volvo/GKN RM12.

GE Aerospace F404, Afterburning turbofan fighter and trainer aircraft engine, Support Equipment
Image source: GE F404 Image
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
GE Aerospace
Type
Afterburning turbofan fighter and trainer aircraft engine
Service note
Late 1970s-present
Produced
Late 1970s-present; continuing production and support for fighter and trainer applications

Specifications

Engine type
Afterburning turbofan
F404-GE-102/103/402 thrust class
17,700 lb (78.7 kN)
RM12 thrust class
18,100 lb (80.5 kN)
F404-GE-IN20 thrust class
19,000 lb (84 kN)
Length
154 in (391 cm)
Maximum diameter
35 in (89 cm)
Inlet diameter
28 in (71 cm)
Airflow
146 lb/sec for -102/-103/-402; 152 lb/sec for RM12; 153 lb/sec for -IN20
Pressure ratio
26:1 for -102/-103/-402; 27:1 for RM12; 28:1 for -IN20
Weight
2,282 lb for -102/-103/-402; 2,325 lb for RM12; 2,365 lb for -IN20
Applications listed by GE
Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet, HAL Tejas Mk I Light Combat Aircraft, Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, Saab Gripen, KAI/LMTAS T-50 Golden Eagle
Fleet scale
More than 4,000 F404 engines delivered and more than 13 million F404 fleet flight hours reported by GE Aerospace
Operating footprint
F404-powered aircraft in operation or on order with 16 nations, according to GE Aerospace
Variants

GE's public sources group the -102, -103, and -402 in a 17,700 lb thrust class, while separately identifying the 18,100 lb RM12 Gripen derivative and the 19,000 lb F404-GE-IN20 Tejas derivative.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
F404-GE-402F/A-18C/D Hornet higher-power variant

GE describes the -402 as a higher-power F404 for the F/A-18C/D Hornet, with 17,700 lb thrust, improved fuel efficiency, and turbine and afterburner materials updates.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet

F404-GE-102KAI/LMTAS T-50 single-engine trainer/light fighter variant

GE's T-50 first-flight release identifies the -102 as a -402 derivative rated at 17,700 lb thrust with single-engine redundancy features and an F414-derived FADEC.

Sources: Republic Of Korea's T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer Completes First Flight

F404-GE-103Boeing T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer variant

GE describes the -103 as the latest F404 derivative for the T-7A, incorporating single-engine safety features and a modern FADEC.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet, Popular Choice: The GE F404-powered Boeing T-7A Trainer

F404-GE-IN20HAL Tejas light combat aircraft variant

GE describes the F404-GE-IN20 as an enhanced production version for India's Light Combat Aircraft, with 19,000 lb thrust and a FADEC-equipped design.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet

F404/RM12Saab Gripen derivative developed with Volvo Aero

GE's datasheet identifies the RM12 as an F404 derivative developed with Volvo Aero for the Saab Gripen; Saab says the redesign increased reliability and power for single-engine Gripen requirements.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet, RM12 Engine: Supporting Gripen For More Than 300,000 Flying Hours

F404-Powered Aircraft In The Catalog

GE identifies the F404 family across several fighter and trainer aircraft; this section links the catalog entries where the relationship is directly supported by GE or Saab sources.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
F/A-18 Hornet (Tactical), Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF/A-18 Hornet (Tactical)Twin-engine carrier-capable strike fighter

GE states that the first F404 version was developed for the F/A-18 Hornet, and identifies the -402 as a higher-power F/A-18C/D Hornet engine.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet

HAL Tejas, Single-engine multirole light combat aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsHAL TejasSingle-engine light combat aircraft

GE identifies the F404-GE-IN20 as the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft derivative and describes it as the highest-thrust F404 family member.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet, F404-GE-IN20 Powers Tejas Aircraft to Successful First Flight

JAS 39 Gripen, Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsJAS 39 GripenSingle-engine multirole fighter

GE lists Saab Gripen as an F404/RM12 application, and Saab describes RM12 as the F404-derived engine redesigned for Gripen's single-engine requirement.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet, RM12 Engine: Supporting Gripen For More Than 300,000 Flying Hours

FA-50PH, Supersonic light combat aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsFA-50PHT-50/FA-50 light combat aircraft family member

GE's T-50 first-flight release says the F404-GE-102 powered the KAI/Lockheed Martin T-50 and identifies the engine as a single-engine trainer derivative.

Sources: Republic Of Korea's T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer Completes First Flight

TF-50 Trainer Jet, Advanced trainer and light attack fighter proposal, Aircraft & UAVsTF-50 Trainer JetT-50-family trainer and light-attack proposal

The TF-50 record represents the T-50-family trainer proposal in the catalog; GE documents the underlying KAI/LMTAS T-50 family as an F404 application.

Sources: F404 Family Data Sheet, Republic Of Korea's T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer Completes First Flight

Turkish Aerospace Hürjet, Supersonic advanced jet trainer and light-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsTurkish Aerospace HürjetAdvanced jet trainer and light-attack aircraft

GE and Turkish Aerospace announced a 2026 agreement for F404 engines to power HÜRJET aircraft and support future variants.

Sources: GE Aerospace and Turkish Aerospace Announce Agreement for F404 Engines for the HÜRJET Program

Relationship-only boundary

The engine page stays relationship-only: cataloged combat use belongs on the aircraft records unless a source directly documents the F404 engine itself as the conflict-use subject.

Sources: F404 Engine, F404 Family Data Sheet

Timeline

GE Aerospace F404 Key Events

  1. T-50 first flight uses F404-GE-102

    GE reported that an F404-GE-102 powered the KAI/Lockheed Martin T-50 advanced jet trainer on its first flight in South Korea.

    Sources: Republic Of Korea's T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer Completes First Flight

  2. U.S. Navy image documents carrier test context

    A U.S. Navy public-domain image shows an F404 engine being tested aboard USS Abraham Lincoln in June 2004.

    Sources: GE F404 Image

  3. F404-GE-IN20 powers Tejas first flight

    GE said the F404-GE-IN20 powered the first flight of Tejas aircraft PV-3 and described earlier Indian orders for development, limited-series, and naval-prototype engines.

    Sources: F404-GE-IN20 Powers Tejas Aircraft to Successful First Flight

  4. T-7A integration highlights F404-GE-103

    GE reported F404-GE-103 integration work for the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk flight-test vehicle and noted the variant's single-engine features and modern FADEC.

    Sources: Popular Choice: The GE F404-powered Boeing T-7A Trainer

  5. Saab summarizes RM12 Gripen record

    Saab described the RM12 as a major redesign of GE's F404 for Gripen's single-engine requirements and said Gripen had flown more than 300,000 hours without engine-related accidents.

    Sources: RM12 Engine: Supporting Gripen For More Than 300,000 Flying Hours

  6. GE reports F404 scale and trainer relevance

    GE Aerospace's F404 page describes the family as selected for the U.S. Air Force T-7A Red Hawk and reports more than 4,000 delivered engines and more than 13 million fleet flight hours.

    Sources: F404 Engine

  7. HÜRJET F404 agreement announced

    GE Aerospace and Turkish Aerospace announced an agreement for F404 engines to power HÜRJET aircraft and provide technical and operational program support.

    Sources: GE Aerospace and Turkish Aerospace Announce Agreement for F404 Engines for the HÜRJET Program

Media

GE Aerospace F404 Images

GE Aerospace F404, Afterburning turbofan fighter and trainer aircraft engine, Support Equipment - view 1
Source: F404 Biofuel Test Image
GE Aerospace F404, Afterburning turbofan fighter and trainer aircraft engine, Support Equipment - view 2
Source: F404-GE-402 Test Cell Image
Related Weapon Systems
Turkish Aerospace Hürjet, Supersonic advanced jet trainer and light-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsTurkish Aerospace HürjetSupersonic advanced jet trainer and light-attack aircraftTurkish Aerospace Hürjet is Turkey's single-engine, tandem-seat supersonic advanced jet trainer and light-attack aircraft, developed under SSB coordination for indigenous jet-training capacity. The aircraft first flew in April 2023, is in serial-production and flight-test work for Turkish Air Force service, and now anchors Spain's Airbus-led SAETA II combat-training system while GE Aerospace supplies F404 propulsion support for the program.
F/A-18 Hornet (Tactical), Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF/A-18 Hornet (Tactical)Carrier-capable multirole strike fighterThe F/A-18 Hornet (Tactical) is the National Naval Aviation Museum's label for the original McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 A-D Hornet family, a twin-engine carrier-capable strike fighter that entered Marine Corps service in 1983 and U.S. Navy service in 1984. NAVAIR describes the Hornet as the nation's first all-weather fighter and attack aircraft; its documented combat record spans Libya, Desert Storm, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and later coalition campaigns.
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF/A-18E/F Super HornetCarrier-capable multirole strike fighterBoeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a U.S. Navy carrier-capable multirole strike fighter developed from the Hornet family for fleet air defense, escort, interdiction, close air support, aerial refueling, suppression of enemy air defenses, and day/night precision strike. The single-seat F/A-18E and two-seat F/A-18F anchor carrier air wings through Block II and Block III upgrades, with documented U.S. Navy use in Afghanistan drawdown support, Operation Inherent Resolve, the Red Sea crisis, Somalia strikes, and U.S. operations against Iran.
SOKO G-4 Super Galeb, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSOKO G-4 Super GalebAdvanced jet trainer and light attack aircraftThe SOKO G-4 Super Galeb is a Yugoslav single-engine advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft built by SOKO in Mostar after development by the Aviation Technical Institute. Designed to move pilots from jet training into light strike tasks, it entered serial production in the early 1980s, remained in Serbian service after Yugoslavia's breakup, and is directly documented in Croatian, Bosnian, and Kosovo War combat or loss records.

Sources

F404 EnginePublisher: GE Aerospace | Note: Supports manufacturer attribution, T-7A selection, F-117 and F/A-18 service context, delivery scale, and F404 fleet flight-hour claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-13F404 Family Data SheetPublisher: GE Aerospace | Note: Supports F404 variants, thrust classes, dimensions, airflow, pressure ratio, weight, and listed aircraft applications. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Republic Of Korea's T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer Completes First FlightPublisher: GE Aerospace | Note: Supports the F404-GE-102 relationship to the KAI/Lockheed Martin T-50, first-flight date, thrust rating, single-engine redundancy features, FADEC context, and broader F404 applications listed by GE. | Accessed: 2026-07-13F404-GE-IN20 Powers Tejas Aircraft to Successful First FlightPublisher: GE Aerospace | Note: Supports F404-GE-IN20 use on Tejas, the December 2008 Tejas PV-3 first-flight context, and earlier Indian orders for Tejas production and prototype engines. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Popular Choice: The GE F404-powered Boeing T-7A TrainerPublisher: GE Aerospace | Note: Supports the F404-GE-103 relationship to the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, T-7A integration context, single-engine features, FADEC, and U.S. Air Force trainer procurement framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-13RM12 Engine: Supporting Gripen For More Than 300,000 Flying HoursPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports the RM12 relationship to the F404 and Gripen, the single-engine redesign rationale, GKN Aerospace support context, and Saab's Gripen flight-hour and engine-safety claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-13GE Aerospace and Turkish Aerospace Announce Agreement for F404 Engines for the HÜRJET ProgramPublisher: GE Aerospace | Note: Supports the May 2026 GE Aerospace and Turkish Aerospace F404 engine agreement, F404-powered HÜRJET aircraft, technical and operational support for the program, and future-variant propulsion context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13GE F404 ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the public-domain U.S. Navy image used for the F404 record. | Accessed: 2026-07-13F404 Biofuel Test ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the public-domain U.S. Navy image of an F404 engine from an F/A-18 running on biofuel during a NAVAIR test at Patuxent River. | Accessed: 2026-07-13F404-GE-402 Test Cell ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the public-domain U.S. Navy image of an F404-GE-402 engine firing on a test cell aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. | Accessed: 2026-07-13