Concerned that the company would be left with only the "limited" engine in its portfolio if it did not win the Air Force contract (for which it was competing with Pratt & Whitney and a General Motors division with its "advanced" engine), GE decided to apply for an export license for the F101 core technology.
Preocupada de quedar cun único motor "limitado" na súa carteira se non conseguía o contrato coa Forza Aérea (no cal competía con Pratt & Whitney e unha división de General Motors co seu motor "avanzado"), GE decidiu solicitar unha licenza de exportación para a tecnoloxía do F101.