GE Aviation has broken-ground on a new $50m jet engine component plant in Auburn, Alabama, US.

The new facility will produce precision, super-alloy machined parts for GE jet engines that will power future commercial and military aircraft as well as support the fleet of GE jet engines already in service.

The new plant is expected to develop collaborative relationships with Auburn University and Tuskegee University.

The plant is scheduled to open in late 2012.

Currently GE and its partner companies operate more than 18,000 commercial jet engines in airline service, and the company expects the number will grow to 24,000 engines by 2015.