Two T901 Improved Turbine Engines Arrive at Sikorsky for Black Hawk Helicopter Modernization

Two of the U.S. Army’s T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE), designed to increase the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter’s power by 50% and improve fuel efficiency, have arrived at Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

The T901, manufactured by GE Aerospace, aims to enhance the helicopter's lift capability and range. These and other enhancements aim to keep the Black Hawk operational into the 2070s.

Sikorsky plans to conduct a multi-aircraft test program. The two T901 engines will be installed in one Black Hawk test aircraft for ground runs and flight testing. Additional hardware is ready to install two more T901 engines in a second test aircraft to expedite the program.

The Army’s Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO), Aviation Turbine Engines Project Office (ATE PO), and Sikorsky have completed H-60M Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, Software Formal Qualification Testing (FQT) for the Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS), and are on track to complete the Flight Management System FQT this summer. All necessary aircraft test instrumentation and "A-kit" hardware have been received to support the test program.

Sikorsky has previously installed and conducted engine light-off of the T901 engine in the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) prototype. The ongoing FARA test program is designed to collect data relevant to the Black Hawk engine integration.

Sikorsky's H-60M modernization efforts focus on the ITE, Modular Open Systems Approach/digital backbone, and Launched Effects. Digital innovations such as a sustainment digital twin aim to improve safety and mission readiness while reducing downtime and unscheduled maintenance.