Since the late 1970s, the J85 engines have been tested and maintained in Switzerland following the introduction of the Northrop F-5 Tiger II. RUAG has since become a trusted partner for the Swiss Air Force and international operators.
Testing of J85-GE-21 engines at Ennetmoos began in 1978, with additional testing in Interlaken until 1994. Today, the facility tests between 30 and 80 engines annually, including the J85-GE-21, F404-GE-402 for the F/A-18, and helicopter engines such as the PW206B2 and Makila-1A/1A1.
Over 45 years of experience define the engine maintenance carried out at RUAG’s engine shop in Stans, where the J85 units are serviced to the highest standards. The Centre of Excellence has continuously evolved through infrastructure upgrades, data acquisition improvements, and process optimisation.
As Overall System Technical Responsible (OSTR) and Life Cycle Management partner for the Swiss fleet, RUAG also holds full US Department of Defense Source Approval Request (SAR) for the entire engine. This makes it one of the few organisations globally authorised to deliver fully certified maintenance on the J85-GE-21.
Each test run typically takes around one and a half working days and involves two dedicated employees at the test bench. With the successful completion of its 5,000th test run, RUAG reinforces its role in securing the performance, availability, and service life of the Swiss and allied fleets.
