US Army accepts two GE T901 engines for Black Hawk flight testing
The US Army has accepted two T901-GE-900 engines to test as part of its Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP), with the powerplants to initially be used in UH-60 Black Hawk…
July 1, 2024
The US Army has accepted two T901-GE-900 engines to test as part of its Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP), with the powerplants to initially be used in UH-60 Black Hawk evaluations.
As part of the multirole helicopter’s major modernisation programme, the General Electric T901 engine will replace the Black Hawk’s outdated T700 powerplant, with GE previously explaining that the limitations imposed by hot days and high altitudes – along with ever increasing aircraft capabilities and weight – have driven the need for more powerful engines. Delivery of the two units follows the first successful ground run in April 2024 of an aircraft powered by a T901 engine.
“At every stage, these engines have demonstrated a level of performance that will undoubtedly help meet the demands of military missions for decades to come,” said Tom Champion, GE Aerospace’s T901 programme director.
The engine was designed to provide US Army aircraft with a 50% power increase as well as 25% lower fuel consumption and increased durability. The use of technologies such as 3D modelling, the use of ceramic matrix composites and 3D-printed parts has also helped keep the power-to-weight ratio high. However, GE adds that the modular design (carried over from the T700) is also “key to the T901’s low cost, reliability, maintainability, and reduced life-cycle costs”.
The US Army is the largest operator of the Black Hawk, with over 2,100 units. The new engine will also be retrofitted to all Army Apache helicopters, with its manufacturers adding it will “also be used on one or more of the Army’s Future Vertical Lift platforms”.
