Abstract <p>This study introduces a novel and practical approach to enhancing gas turbine efficiency by integrating a reverse Joule–Brayton refrigeration cycle with a conventional gas turbine power cycle. The proposed method extracts a portion of the main compressor’s intake air to be chilled and reinjected into the turbine inlet, substantially reducing the intake temperature and improving overall performance, especially under hot and humid conditions. Unlike traditional cooling methods such as evaporative cooling, this configuration achieves significantly lower inlet temperatures, offering superior thermal management. A comprehensive parametric analysis is conducted to evaluate the impact of two key factors: the mass extraction ratio (<i>α</i>) and the extraction pressure ratio (<i>r</i>_<i>ext</i>). The results reveal that system performance is highly sensitive to these parameters, with optimal ranges of <i>r</i>_<i>ext</i> (typically between 6.5 and 8.5) required to prevent efficiency losses and excessive fuel consumption. Furthermore, the analysis identifies an ideal r_ext range (2–3) for maximizing power effectiveness at specific <i>α</i> values. This research not only demonstrates the potential to improve net power output and reduce specific fuel consumption but also provides clear design guidelines for integrating reverse Brayton-based cooling in gas turbine applications. The outcomes benefit the scientific community by offering a deeper understanding of air cooling dynamics and advancing the prospects for more resilient and efficient power generation in thermally challenging environments.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>