GE Aerospace(GE.US) partners with Palantir(PLTR.US) to secure new U.S. military contracts, leveraging AI to overcome J85 engine supply chain bottlenecks

GE Aerospace (GE.US) has partnered with Palantir Technologies (PLTR.US) to participate in a new U.S. defense contract aimed at improving the readiness of the U.S. Air Force T-38 trainer aircraft fleet. This marks the first digital “TrueChoice Defense” agreement signed for the J85 engine.

The jet engine manufacturer announced that it has secured a contract awarded by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to enhance maintenance support for the J85 engine. The J85 engine powers the U.S. Air Force’s primary trainer aircraft. Under this initial seven-month agreement (with an optional extension of four years and five months), GE will provide fleet management and supply chain optimization capabilities to support the Air Force’s training missions.

The program leverages artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics to integrate information from the U.S. Air Force, DLA, and GE. The platform aims to forecast parts demand, identify emerging supply chain bottlenecks, and provide users with a comprehensive operational view, enabling faster decision-making and more efficient engine maintenance.

The TrueChoice Defense agreement is a performance-based collaboration model that uses AI-driven analytics and integrated enterprise data to predict parts needs, reduce supply chain constraints, and improve the overall readiness of the military engine fleet.

Asha Belarski, General Manager of Customer Support and Sustainment for GE Aerospace Defense and Systems, stated: “This contract directly supports the readiness of the J85 engine and the U.S. Air Force’s primary trainer fleet. By integrating enterprise-wide business data and applying AI to forecast demand and identify constraints earlier, we are helping the Air Force keep more aircraft available and ensure pilots receive the training needed to perform their missions.”

Prior to this award, a pilot program was conducted that integrated data from multiple organizations responsible for managing over 6,000 J85 engine parts. According to GE, this effort demonstrated how advanced analytics can improve supply chain transparency, reduce delays, and enable more proactive maintenance decisions.

As part of the contract, GE is collaborating with Palantir to combine aerospace engineering expertise (603698) with data integration and AI capabilities. Both companies stated they will focus on addressing supply chain bottlenecks, increasing parts supply efficiency, and providing faster, smarter decision support across the J85 maintenance ecosystem.

GE indicated that as defense customers increasingly turn to AI-driven platforms to modernize sustainment operations, the company will continue investing in digital tools to enhance the readiness and operational outcomes of military engine fleets.