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American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky has begun ground runs of a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter equipped with two US Army T901 improved turbine engines.
The Lockheed Martin company expects the Black Hawk modernisation program involving the new GE Aerospace turbine engines to boost aircraft performance, combat capabilities and range.
During this test, the T901 engine demonstrated its capabilities through a series of rigorous procedures. The initial light off and ground runs were executed by a combined US Army and industry test team and operated by Army and Sikorsky pilots, according to the company.
“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 modernised 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 improved turbine engines’ (ITE) verified system functionality, engine health and test set up 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 towards 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 sets the stage for more advanced testing, such as hover and forward flight tests.
The T901 engine is expected to increase the Black Hawk’s power by 50 per cent while also improving fuel efficiency and is a critical component of the roadmap to a modernised Black Hawk.
Sikorsky H-60M modernisation efforts continue to be primarily focused on ITE, as well as Modular Open Systems Approach or digital backbone and launched effects. Digital innovations, such as a new sustainment digital twin, improve safety and mission readiness while reducing costly downtime and unscheduled maintenance.
