The Turbine Engine Technology Symposium in Dayton, Ohio this month brought together approximately 1,000 engineers, scientists and operational personnel to review and discuss the latest technological advances. 

Alpha Metalcraft Group, one of the exhibitors, and nearly 700 visitors to the symposium also discovered the opportunity to evaluate one of the most consequential developments in recent military history.

In June, GE Aerospace delivered the first T901 Improved Turbine Engines to Sikorsky for installation onto Black Hawk UH-60M helicopters. The engine has been designed to increase the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter’s performance, including lift capability and range. 

The new turbine engine “will give the Division commander more options for planning and executing air assault missions,’’ according to an article in the Army Times. “It will deliver more power and better fuel efficiency, so the aircraft can fly further and carry more payload on a single tank of gas.”

The new GE Aerospace T901 engine is also anticipated to be installed on the platforms for the CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache. All three helicopters include leading edge guards from AMG for their blades.

The UH-60 Black Hawk, which is manufactured by Connecticut-based Sikorsky, entered service for the U.S. Army in 1979. Additional versions have been developed for the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

The UH-60 Black Hawk is in service in 35 nations this year and is used in various missions, including aeromedical evacuation, electronic warfare and transport of troops. A VIP version is used to transport government officials.

Boeing’s AH-64 Apache and CH-47 are also long-time military apparatus. The Chinook first entered service for the U.S. Army in 1962 and was widely used in Vietnam for troop transport, placing artillery batteries in mountain positions inaccessible by other means. The AH-64 Apache was introduced in 1986. The helicopter has been designed to perform on the front lines of battlefields and is the primary attack helicopter for several nations.

The new engine from GE Aerospace was developed in response to a need from the U.S. Army for increased power. The engine provides 50% more power and reduced life cycle costs with fewer parts and a simpler design. According to GE Aerospace, the modular design of the engine includes 3D modeling, ceramic matrix composites (CMC) and 3D printed parts. The use of CMCs and 3D parts enables the engine to produce more power with less weight. 

Leading edge guards manufactured by AMG play an important role in the performance of the Black Hawk and other helicopters used by the U.S. military. Leading edge guards (also called abrasion strips) protect rotors from impact and erosion. Water, dirt and sand can contribute to erosion, which reduces energy efficiency and performance. Helicopters used in rugged environments for military operations are particularly susceptible to damage from elements.

AMG was among more than 60 exhibitors at the symposium, which included training and workshop sessions. The agenda included a keynote address from Thomas Lawhead, the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements for the U.S. Air Force.