ST Engineering Expands CFM56, Leap MRO Capabilities

SINGAPORE—ST Engineering officially opened its new CFM56 and Leap-1A and -1B engine maintenance shops in Singapore on Sept. 15.

The repurposed facilities in Paya Lebar expand its capabilities and will gradually increase its CFM engine maintenance output to 300 engines annually by 2027.

ST Engineering redelivered its first Leap-1B in 2022 and became a CFM Premier MRO provider in 2023. The Singaporean MRO has inducted 88 Leap engines so far and expects to reach its 100th in November.

Today it offers quick turns and is transitioning into performance restoration shop visits (PRSV), which restore the engine’s exhaust gas temperature margins by servicing core modules. A PRSV covers about 60-70% of an overhaul, according to ST Engineering.

By the first quarter of 2026, “We will be ready for full engine overhaul workscopes for both the Leap-1A and -1Bs,” says Jeffrey Lam, ST Engineering’s president of commercial aerospace.  The Leap-1A powers Airbus A320neos while the -1B equips Boeing 737 MAXs.

Aviation Week Network’s Fleet & Forecast data shows there are about 9,200 in-service Leap engines and predicts that fleet to grow to more than 32,000 in 2035.

Coupled with its CFM56 engine facility in Xiamen, China, ST Engineering plans for throughput of at least 400 engine shop visits annually.

In addition to capacity, ST Engineering also is investing in parts repairs and technologies at its maintenance shops. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) will soon be added to its robotic engine receiving inspection tool to identify and flag missing or damaged engine parts for added efficiencies.

ST Engineering plans to add 300 new jobs for its engine MRO operations in Singapore. These skilled jobs “will give Singaporeans better access and exposure to advanced technologies, including AI and robotics,” says Jermaine Loy, Singapore Economic Development Board’s managing director.

ST Engineering did not disclose its exact investment in the engine facilities but said it was in the “multi-million dollars.” The company started its engine MRO business in 1975 by servicing military powerplants for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.