Sikorsky tests upgraded Black Hawk with GE Aerospace T901 engines
GE Aerospace's new engine will improve the performance and range of the legendary Black Hawk.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has initiated ground testing for the first time on a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter equipped with two GE Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE). During this test, the T901 engine demonstrated its capabilities through a series of rigorous procedures. Initial ignition and ground testing was conducted by a joint U.S. Army and industry test team, with the participation of Army and Sikorsky pilots.
“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 launched effects,” said Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky. “A modernized Black Hawk fleet will create new operational opportunities for the Army by extending the capabilities of a proven, fielded fleet to travel farther on less fuel and with more troops and cargo.”
“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.”
Moving towards the first flight
The ground runs on the T901 ITE engines verified system functionality, engine health and test setup for an efficient testing process. The test demonstrated the T901’s start-to-fly progression, including idle and fly modes, with the rotor brake disengaged, marking a significant step toward the program's goal of delivering a more powerful and efficient engine for the next-generation Black Hawk.
This testing process evaluates the functionality of the entire system, from the engine ignition sequence to the main rotor engagement to enable takeoff. The test team verified the correct operation of critical systems, including fuel, electrical, hydraulic and flight control.
Factory testing continues in parallel with this integration effort. According to GE Aviation, data collected during these tests continues to validate that the T901 engine is on track to meet the rigorous performance requirements set by the US. Army.
Modernized Black Hawk
The T901 engine will increase the Black Hawk's power by 50%, improve fuel efficiency (extending its range) and will be a key component in the roadmap to a modernized Black Hawk.
The Sikorsky H-60M modernization efforts are primarily focused on ITE, along with the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)/digital infrastructure and launched effects. Digital innovations, such as a new digital maintenance twin, improve safety and operational availability, while reducing downtime and unscheduled maintenance. The company has also been working since 2022 on reducing the workload of Black Hawk pilots by implementing autonomy algorithms.
AUTOR
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