An F100-PW-229 engine undergoes testing at McEntire Air National Guard Base, South Carolina, in June 2025. These engines, which are eventually destined for use in aircraft like the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, are technically challenging to build and rely on vulnerable supply chains. (US Air National Guard/Airman 1st Class Alexis Goodman)

The US Air Force’s Engine Problems Are Just Getting Started

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The Government Accountability Office has identified repeated problems with US jet engine manufacturing, contributing to overall delays in aircraft procurement.

The US Air Force is warning that the nation’s military jet engine industrial base is facing significant challenges—production delays, quality control problems, obsolete manufacturing processes, and fragile supply chains.

A new Request for Information (RFI) put out by the Air Force signals the service branch wants not only improved engines, but potentially new manufacturers and an entirely overhauled procurement model. This initiative reflects a concern that continues to grow within the Pentagon—namely that the United States’ industrial deficiencies hinder its ability to achieve and maintain dominance in the air.

Delays Are Pitting Engine Manufacturers Against the Air Force

The Air Force has identified several systemic problems facing........

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