U.S. Army Tests New T901 Engines in Black Hawk Helicopter

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has completed initial ground runs of a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter equipped with two new T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE). The tests, conducted at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach facility, mark a significant step in the U.S. Army’s efforts to modernize its helicopter fleet.

The T901 engines, developed under the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), are designed to replace the current T700 engines used in the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters. The new engines offer 50% more power, delivering up to 3,000 shaft horsepower, and promise improved fuel efficiency, extended range, and reduced maintenance costs.

“The test demonstrated the T901’s start-to-fly progression, including idle and fly modes, with the rotor brake disengaged,” Sikorsky said in a statement. The ground runs, conducted by a combined U.S. Army and industry test team, verified the functionality of critical systems, including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, and flight control systems.

The T901 engines are part of a broader modernization effort for the Black Hawk fleet, which includes integrating a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) digital backbone and incorporating autonomous technologies to reduce pilot workload. “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,” said Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky.

The U.S. Army plans to prioritize the integration of the T901 engines into the Black Hawk before focusing on the Apache. Boeing, which manufactures the Apache, is also working on complementary improvements to the helicopter’s propulsion system, including the Improved Tail Rotor Blade (ITRB) and Improved Tail Rotor Drive System (ITRDS).

The T901 engines are expected to play a critical role in future conflicts, particularly in the vast Asia-Pacific theater, where helicopters face challenges due to limited endurance. The engines will also help bridge the gap to the Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), a next-generation tiltrotor expected to enter service in the coming years.

First flight of the T901-equipped Black Hawk is anticipated later this year, with further tests, including hover and forward flight, to follow. The successful ground runs represent a key milestone in the program, bringing the Army closer to deploying a more powerful and efficient helicopter fleet.