A significant milestone has been reached in military aviation as a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter has successfully completed its initial ground run fitted with the new T901 engine. This engine is set to replace the older General Electric T700 engines currently powering the UH-60 and the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fleet.
The T901 engine promises substantial advancements in performance, boasting an estimated 50 percent increase in power and a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency while maintaining a similar weight profile. Additionally, it is designed to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to its predecessor, addressing both operational demands and environmental concerns.
Amy Gowder, the president and CEO of Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace, highlighted the significance of this development, stating, “These tests mark a pivotal moment in history as the T901 engine powers the Black Hawk for the first time. This achievement paves the way for a more powerful and mission-ready Black Hawk, equipping the US Army with the ability to meet the growing demands of future operations.” The Black Hawk is slated to be outfitted with the T901 engine first, followed by the Apache helicopter.
The ground tests verified critical engine systems, including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, engine, and flight control systems, as well as engine bay flow. Lockheed Martin emphasized the importance of these tests, noting that they demonstrated the T901’s performance through a progression that includes idle and fly modes with the rotor brake disengaged. This marks a crucial leap toward achieving the program’s objective of delivering a more powerful and efficient engine for the next-generation Black Hawk.
Data collected during these ground tests, along with ongoing factory evaluations, will inform the further development of the T901 engine, validating its progress at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach facility.
The innovative design of the T901 not only enhances power and fuel efficiency but also diminishes lifecycle costs by simplifying its construction and reducing the number of parts. These improvements are expected to translate into enhanced range, endurance, and payload capacity for the Black Hawk, addressing historical challenges stemming from continuous retrofitting and upgrades.
Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky, remarked on the importance of these upgrades, stating that “Soldiers will rely on Black Hawk helicopters well into the future, and upgrades to the aircraft today will pay dividends for decades, enabling new missions such as deploying and managing launch effects.” He further stressed that a modernized Black Hawk fleet will create new operational opportunities for the Army by allowing for extended travel capabilities using less fuel while carrying more personnel and cargo.
