Two General Electric T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE) have arrived at Sikorsky facilities for integration on Black Hawk utility helicopters. Hamid Salim, Vice President of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky stated that T901 is important for keeping UH-60 helicopters in service into the 2070s.
This statement, coming despite the acquisition of the V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft as the winner of the FLRAA tender, shows that the U.S. Army wants to keep the helicopter for a long time. GE Aerospace’s new turboshaft engine, set to succeed the current T701 turboshaft engines, is scheduled to make its inaugural flight onboard the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter in the coming year, paving the way for future advancements.
T901 was initially earmarked for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) next-generation attack and reconnaissance helicopter programme. However, due to cost concerns and the increasing use of UCAVs for armed reconnaissance missions, the focus on T901’s usage has now shifted.
T901 was developed within the ITEP programme, aiming to replace the long-serving T701 line of engines with a more powerful replacement. Compared to T701, which can produce 2000 to 2500 shp power depending on variant, T901 is rated at 3000 shp. In addition to a higher power rating, the engine is stated to have higher fuel efficiency and fewer parts.
