US Army and GE Aviation test first full Affordable Turbine Engine
GE Aviation successfully began testing the first full engine in the Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) program under a cooperative agreement between GE and the US Army.
The engine is designed to meet a series of goals including a 35% reduction in specific fuel consumption, 80% improvement in power-to-weight, 20% improvement in design life and 45% reduction in production and maintenance costs relative to currently fielded engines.
The first full engine test follows the successful completion of FATE compressor, combustor and turbine rig tests in 2015. The FATE turbine rig was built using additive manufacturing techniques for faster construction and lower development costs. These rigs followed FATE inlet particle separator tests completed in 2014.
In 2011, GE was awarded the FATE cooperative program to design a 5,000-10,000 shp (shaft horse power) class engine that demonstrates technologies applicable to existing aircraft and future rotorcraft requirements such as the US Department of Defense’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.
The technologies can be incorporated into new engines or upgrades to existing engines such as the T700 which powers several medium lift helicopters including the Black Hawk and Apache.
South Korea to order 20 additional F-35 fighter jets
The South Korean government has approved the purchase of an additional batch of F-35 stealth fighter jets. ...
US Army, Sikorsky sign $2.3B deal for H-60M Black Hawk helicopters
The US government and Sikorsky have signed a $2.3 billion multi-year contract for 120 H-60M Black Hawk utility helicopte...
Ukraine to be given three Bayraktars following crowdfunding campaign
Turkey will donate three Bayraktar TB2s to the Ukrainian Armed Forces after a successful fundraising campaign to buy the...
UK cancels Mosquito Loyal Wingman project
Project Mosquito, the UK’s own stealth combat drone program, has been cancelled in favor of cheaper and smaller al...