Lockheed Martin Sikorsky commenced the inaugural ground tests on a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter fitted with two GE Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE). Throughout this test, the T901 engine showcased its capabilities via a series of demanding procedures. The initial ignition and ground tests were conducted by a joint U.S. Army and industry test team, with operations carried out by 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 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.
The start-to-fly progression tests the functionality of the entire system, from the engine start sequence to the engagement of the main rotor to enable lift-off. The test team verifies that all critical systems, including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, and flight control systems, are functioning as expected. The successful ground test set the stage for more advanced testing, such as hover and forward flight tests.
The T901 engine will increase the Black Hawk’s power by 50%, while also improving fuel efficiency and is a critical component of the roadmap to a modernized Black Hawk – a key part of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security vision.
Efforts to modernize the Sikorsky H-60M remain concentrated on the Improved Turbine Engine (ITE), the Modular Open Systems Approach/digital backbone, and Launched Effects. Digital advancements, like a new sustainment digital twin, enhance safety and mission readiness while minimizing expensive downtime and unplanned maintenance. Since 2022, Sikorsky has shown that integrating proven autonomy capabilities into the Black Hawk can reduce pilot workload and enhance safety.
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