General Electric T901
| T901 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Turboshaft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | GE Aviation |
The General Electric T901 (GE3000[1]) is a turboshaft engine in the 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) class currently under development for the United States Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). The ITEP plans after 2025 to re-engine over 1,300 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and more than 600 Boeing AH-64 Apache, and power the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.[2]
Development
Since 2010, General Electric has spent more than $300 million to develop and test T901-specific technologies. In 2016, the Army awarded GE Aviation a $102-million, 24-month contract for the T901 preliminary design review for which a team of more than 100 engineers was assembled. The GE-funded prototype six month testing was completed in October 2017, meeting or exceededing the ITEP performance and growth requirements.[3]
On 1 February 2019, the US Army selected the GE T901 as the winner of the ITEP program.[4] Engineering completion and manufacturing development are contracted for $517 million, for August 2024 before low-rate production.[2]
Design
GE has maintained the T700 single spool architecture for modularity and reliability with additive manufacturing and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) from the CFM LEAP, GE9X or GE ATP. Additive manufactured components lower weight by minimizing attaching features in assemblies and allows more advanced aerodynamic shapes for better engine performance, reliability and durability. More durable and higher temperature CMCs replace metal alloys, needing less cooling and improving engine efficiency.[3]
Applications
See also
Related development
Comparable engines
Related lists
References
- ^ "The Single Spool Core: A proven design for performance and simplicity" (PDF). GE Aviation.
- ^ a b Garrett Reim (1 Feb 2019). "GE wins $517m ITEP contract for US Army helicopters". Flightglobal.
- ^ a b "GE Aviation completes T901 turboshaft testing for the US Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program" (Press release). GE Aviation. October 9, 2017.
- ^ Insinna, Valerie (1 February 2019). "General Electric wins $517 million contract to build engines for Army's next generation helicopters". Defense News. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 2 February 2019.