Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky received two of the U.S. Army’s upcoming rotary-wing engines for integration into the UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopter. According to the company's statement on June 27, this delivery marks the beginning of a new stage in efforts to modernize the Black Hawk helicopter.
General Electric's aerospace division has faced significant setbacks with its Improved Turbine Engine Program engine, including delays due to technology development and supply chain challenges. The Army had forecasted nearly a two-year delay in integrating the T901 engine into the UH-60 a year ago.
The UH-60 Black Hawk will be the initial recipient of this capability, with plans for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter to follow suit.
The T901 engine is set to replace the outdated T700 from the 1970s, offering a 50% increase in power to enhance aircraft performance. Its improved fuel efficiency, boasting a 25% reduction in consumption, aims to minimize energy use and carbon emissions. Additionally, the engine is anticipated to feature more robust components, leading to reduced life-cycle expenses.
Earlier this year, the Army made the decision to extend the development phase of the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), delaying procurement and fielding plans without setting a new timeline. Initially intended for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), the ITEP engine was redirected after the cancellation of the FARA helicopter program, where both Bell and Sikorsky had integrated the engine into their prototypes.
Sikorsky, leveraging fiscal 2024 funding allocated to FARA, conducted ITEP tests in its prototype to mitigate risks before integrating the engine into the UH-60 Black Hawk. On April 10, the company successfully conducted the first ground run of the ITEP engine in the FARA prototype, according to Paul Lemmo, Sikorsky's president.
With the ITEP engines now available for Black Hawk integration, Sikorsky plans to conduct a fit check with one of the modified UH-60s. Subsequently, the engine will be installed for ground tests and test flights, expected to span approximately one month, as outlined by Lemmo.
Sikorsky intends to spend approximately six months integrating the ITEP engine into the UH-60 and conducting ground tests before the first flight, as highlighted by Lemmo.
Additionally, the company aims to expedite its testing program by installing the second engine into another UH-60 test aircraft.
