GE Aerospace plans to accelerate Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo engine production as part of a $1 billion investment across commercial and defense operations.
On March 9, 2026, GE Aerospace said it was expanding its commercial engine production capacity, particularly the CFM LEAP engine which powers MAX and A320neo jets.
The Evendale-based company also plans to strengthen defense production and its supplier base and ramp up parts manufacturing that extend time-on-wing.
GE Aerospace said the strategy will “safely extend time between maintenance shop visits and strengthen defense production to keep pace with military demand”.
On the commercial front, $200 million will be used to expand manufacturing capacity for LEAP high-pressure turbine durability kits that will improve time-on-wing for customers by more than two times in hot and harsh conditions.
The investment also supports production of the reverse bleed system, which reduces the need for on-wing maintenance.
This includes $115 million in the GE Aerospace’s headquarters to modernize infrastructure, increase test cell capacity, and expand advanced 3D metal printing capabilities.
Additionally, $20 million will go to the Durham facility for specialized tooling, engine line assembly systems, and building upgrades to support the increased assembly of narrowbody and widebody engines.
While the Lafayette engine facility will receive $7 million in new tools, equipment and facility upgrades that support engine assembly and increase capacity to meet 2026 narrowbody engine deliveries.
The latest round in funding is the company’s second consecutive $1 billion investment in the US and will generate 5,000 new jobs this year.
More than $275 million of the $1 billion is planned to upgrade sites producing defense engines and components, “helping to strengthen the US defense industrial base”.
GE Aerospace is also investing more than $100 million in external suppliers which will provide tooling and equipment to help stabilize production schedules.
#GEAerospace plans to invest another $1B in U.S. manufacturing in 2026 to deliver for customers, scale production of durable parts, support #military missions. To do it all, we will hire another 5K U.S. workers.#USManufacturing pic.twitter.com/36Arzl2BSy
— GE Aerospace (@GE_Aerospace) March 9, 2026
“Maintaining U.S. aerospace leadership requires sustained investment in our people, our facilities, and the technologies that will define the future of flight,” said Henry Lawrence Culp, Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace. “This investment is for our customers, our communities, and our country.”
In total, GE Aerospace said the investment would benefit sites across more than 30 communities in 17 states.