New Engine for the H-60?

Defense News has a new report, “US Army’s next-gen helicopter engine could fly in Black Hawk next year.

As we know, the Black Hawk is an H-60, and the Coast Guard will continue to have H-60s for a very long time. That means a new engine with improved performance and greater reliability is good news.

The T901 engine will replace the 1970s-era T700 and provide aircraft with a 50% power increase to restore performance. It’s 25% improved fuel consumption reduces energy usage and carbon emissions. The engine is also expected to have more durable components, which will lower life-cycle costs.

25% improved fuel consumption could mean another couple of hundred miles of range or another hour on station. It would also mean lower fuel costs. It might also mean the ability to maintain max speed rather than having to use a more economical cruise speed. Not that we are likely to see it soon, but the potential is there.

3 thoughts on “New Engine for the H-60?

  1. With the US Army cancelling the FARA program, which was to be powered by the T901, that could provide a greater opportunity for upgrading H-60s. GE has likely already made significant plans/investment to grow engine production to accommodate FARA. Earlier upgrading of the H-60 fleets would make some fiscal sense for DoD & GE

  2. This is very likely to happen, especially as it’s designed to be a replacement engine for the venerable T700 series. There will most likely be a host of users for this new engine. Foreign users of the 700 will also want the more powerful unit.

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