GE Aviation is set to invest in a new facility in Singapore to produce parts for its GE9X engine, which will power Boeing’s 777X aircraft.

The S$42m ($32m) facility will be situated at Seletar Aerospace Park and manufacture high-pressure compressor (HPC) vanes.

Set to open late this year, the facility will be built over a 50,000ft² area and is expected to help GE Aviation expand its presence in Singapore.

“The GE9X engine that will power the Boeing 777X aircraft incorporates the most advanced technologies.”

It will initially employ 20 people and plans to add 100 skilled technicians and engineers by 2020.

GE Aviation GE9X programme general manager Ted Ingling said: “The GE9X engine that will power the Boeing 777X aircraft incorporates the most advanced technologies.

“With more than 700 engines sold to date, the manufacturing of components for the GE9X engine is a critical part of our production process, and this facility will play a key role.”

The company currently operates an engine component repair facility at Loyang Industrial Park, Singapore, and seeks to import ideas and concepts from this centre to the proposed engine parts manufacturing facility.

In a separate development, GE Aviation secured a contract from global aircraft leasing company AerCap to provide GEnx-1B engines to power 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

The $780m deal includes an option for ten additional aircraft and is set to increase AerCap’s GEnx-powered 787 Dreamliner fleet to 49 firm aircraft.

GE Aviation has so far secured 700 orders for its GE9X engines.