Sikorsky Launches Ground-Breaking Black Hawk® Tests Featuring U.S. Army’s Advanced T901 Turbine Engines

Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, commenced its inaugural ground tests on a UH-60M Black Hawk® helicopter outfitted with two GE Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE). Throughout this evaluation, the T901 engine showcased its proficiency through a sequence of demanding procedures. The initial light-up and ground tests were carried out by a collaborative U.S. Army and industry testing team, guided by Army and Sikorsky aviators.

“Personnel will depend on Black Hawk helicopters well into the future, and enhancements to the aircraft today will yield benefits for decades, facilitating new missions such as deploying and supervising launched effects,” stated Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky. “A revamped Black Hawk fleet will generate new operational possibilities for the Army by broadening the capabilities of a trusted, established fleet to travel further on less fuel and accommodate additional personnel and cargo.”

The inaugural flight of the ITE-equipped Black Hawk is expected to occur this year.

Progressing to First Flight

The ground tests on the T901 ITE engines validated system functionality, engine health, and test configuration for an effective evaluation process.

The assessment illustrated the T901’s start-to-flight evolution, covering idle and flight modes, with the rotor brake released, marking a crucial milestone towards the initiative’s aim of delivering a more potent and efficient engine for the next-generation Black Hawk.

The start-to-flight evolution tests the functionality of the entire system, from the engine ignition sequence to the engagement of the main rotor to facilitate lift-off. The testing team confirms that all vital systems, including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, and flight control systems, are operating as anticipated.

The successful ground evaluation paved the way for more sophisticated testing, such as hover and forward flight assessments.

A Modernized Black Hawk

The T901 engine will bolster the Black Hawk’s power by 50%, while also enhancing fuel efficiency and serves as a crucial component of the strategy for a modernized Black Hawk – an essential element of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security® vision.

Sikorsky H-60M modernization initiatives continue to center around ITE, in addition to Modular Open Systems Approach/digital backbone and Launched Effects. Digital advancements, such as an innovative sustainment digital twin, enhance safety and mission readiness while minimizing expensive downtime and unexpected maintenance. Since 2022, Sikorsky has demonstrated the capability to lessen pilot workload and bolster safety by integrating established autonomy features into Black Hawk.