GE Aerospace is entering a new chapter in commercial aviation as its GE9X engine—one of the most powerful jet engines ever developed—transitions from years of intensive testing to full-scale production and operational deployment. Designed to power Boeing’s forthcoming 777X, the largest twin-engine passenger aircraft in the world, the GE9X is now moving from factory floors to the skies.
Boasting a massive 3.4-meter fan diameter and capable of producing up to 134,000 pounds of thrust, the GE9X represents a major leap forward in engine technology. GE Aerospace has subjected the engine to rigorous evaluations over the years, accumulating 27,000 test cycles and 17,000 hours of performance data. Now certified and in mass production, the GE9X is poised to transform long-haul aviation with unmatched power, efficiency, and durability.
Production is ramping up at GE Aerospace’s facility in Durham, North Carolina, in close coordination with Boeing’s 777X assembly line in Everett, Washington. “We’ve started building,” said Cristina Seda-Hoelle, head of the GE9X program at GE Aerospace. “And we’ll be aligning production with Boeing’s production of the 777X.”
Following assembly, each engine undergoes final testing at GE’s Peebles, Ohio, facility, where it faces a series of endurance trials. Among them is a 1,600-cycle dust ingestion test that simulates operation in extreme arid environments. “We’ve run the heck out of the engine,” said Tyler-Blair Sheppard, GE9X marketing lead. “After 1,500 cycles, borescope inspections showed the engine’s hot section remained in excellent condition, allowing for an additional 100 test cycles.”
The result, Sheppard emphasized, is a more robust and reliable engine built to perform in some of the harshest climates around the globe.
But the GE9X isn’t only a powerhouse—it’s also a leader in sustainability. The engine’s NOx emissions are 55% below international regulatory limits. GE Aerospace continues to conduct thousands of additional tests in pursuit of Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) approval, expected later this year.
To support global operations, GE Aerospace is investing over $1 billion in its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network. A global lease pool of spare engines will ensure airlines have rapid access to replacements and service, minimizing downtime.
“When issues occur, we’ll be fully set up to support our customers and get them flying again as soon as possible,” said Sheppard.
As the GE9X prepares for entry into service aboard the Boeing 777X, the aviation industry stands at the threshold of a new era defined by unprecedented strength, reliability, and environmental performance. “The GE9X engine is an absolute beast of modern engineering,” said Seda-Hoelle. “This isn’t just cool—it’s a game changer that pushes the boundaries of technology.”