GE Aerospace announced the successful completion of initial ground runs for the T901 engine on a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach facility. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Improved Turbine Engine Program’s Black Hawk testing.
“These tests mark a pivotal moment in history as the T901 engine powers the Black Hawk for the first time,” said Amy Gowder, president and CEO, Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “This achievement paves the way for a more powerful and mission-ready Black Hawk, equipping the U.S. Army with the ability to meet the growing demands of future operations.”
The ground runs validated the initial performance of all critical systems — including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, engine and flight control systems, and engine bay flow. Additionally, the tests acquired data from the comprehensive aircraft and engine instrumentation that will be used throughout the flight test program.
Factory testing continues in parallel with this integration effort. The data gathered during these tests continues to validate that the T901 engine is on track to meet the U.S. Army’s rigorous performance requirements.
“The successful ground runs of the T901 engine on the Black Hawk represent another critical milestone in our partnership with the U.S. Army,” said Tom Champion, GE Aerospace’s T901 program director. “This latest accomplishment not only validates the T901 engine’s unmatched performance but also reflect the unwavering effort of our team and strength of our partnership with both the U.S. Army and Sikorsky.”
The T901 engine builds on GE Aerospace’s unparalleled legacy of powering Black Hawk and Apache helicopters with the combat-proven T700 engine, which has logged more than 100 million flight hours over the past four decades. Developed in response to the Army’s call for increased power and reduced fuel consumption, the T901 delivers 50 percent more power, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced life cycle costs thanks to its simpler design and fewer parts. This efficiency translates to increased range, longer loiter time, and reduced maintenance and sustainment costs for the Army’s enduring fleet.
The T901 is a cornerstone of the Army’s modernisation efforts, and today’s milestone underscores GE Aerospace’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge propulsion technology to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s missions.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Kym Bergmann at kym.bergmann@venturamedia.net
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at simon.hadfield@venturamedia.net
Naturally, Straya’s Army – DoD couldn’t persevere with Taipan until Blackhawks with “50 percent more power, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced life cycle costs thanks to its simpler design and fewer parts” were available.
Naturally, Straya’s Army – DoD ignored the fact that “This efficiency translates to increased range, longer loiter time, and reduced maintenance and sustainment costs for the Army’s enduring fleet.”…way to go Straya’s Army – DoD…mental giants all.
Australia’s decision to procure UH-60M was made before the T-901 had even been bench tested.
There are about 1900 US Army Black Hawks and Apaches to be re-engined, and the T-901 is in low-rate production. First delivery to the US Army may occur in late 2025.
Oct 2017, GE T901 prototype exceeded US Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) performance and growth requirements.
1 Feb 2019, US Army selected the GE T901 as the winner of the ITEP program.
28 Jun 2022, first GE T901 turboshaft completed bench testing, deliveries to US Army were scheduled for Fall of 2023.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_T901
Aug 2022, Australia formally requested 40 Blackhawks
Army alleges Taipan’s lack of cost effectiveness in defence of its criminally premature disposal, yet will still be waiting for the least cost effective Blackhawk off the line in 2030.
By 2030 Taipan would’ve had 10 years service left to bridge current delays in T901 production/delivery or better still, roll out of the Bell V280 Valor.
That the FMS contract was submitted a few weeks after the bench tests doesn’t change the fact that ITEP engines weren’t available.
You can invent alternate scenarios and disparage Straya’s Army if it makes you feel better. But in 2021, when the decision was made to terminate the Taipan program, UH-60M was immediately available and the T-901 wasn’t. Perhaps they’ll be retrofitted in future, in line with the US Army fleet.
The error of your claim and delicacy of your skin, doesn’t absolve Army – DoD of hubris that has left the nation indefensibly vulnerable and tax payers grotesquely ripped off…yet again.
I didn’t make an error. You just can’t read.
“Australia’s decision to procure UH-60M was made before the T-901 had even been bench tested.”, underlines a failure by the author of this sentence to make a distinction between Dutton’s initial request for “advice” re Blackhawks in 2021 vs Australia’s formal order of 40 T700 models in late 2022, months AFTER the T901’s rigorous, successful bench testing.
This is a crucial distinction when the merit of waiting for a game changing upgrade like the T901 is being argued in response to Army’s deceptive reporting and utter hypocrisy re Taipan cost effectiveness. Wanting the best option for those destined to serve in these aircraft and the most cost effective option for taxpayers, apparently constitutes self indulgent, spurious conduct to rusted on Army fanboys.
The next battle is to save the Tiger ARH fleet so they can be donated to Ukraine. I’m fairly sure that the Army is implementing the Taipan playbook of trying to progressively destroy them before anyone else can demonstrate their effectiveness. “Oh no – we would love to give them to you, but none can be flown anymore. So sad.” I’ll have a lot more to say about this soon.
Indeed, despite the dramatic turn around in Tiger availability, reliability & performance that Army eventually achieved by actually working with Airbus rather than sabotaging it.