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.

READ MORE:
 
GE Aviation’s F414 engine to power South Korea’s KF-X fighter jet
South Korea selected GE Aviation as the preferred bidder to supply F414 engines for its next-generation indigenous fighter.
 

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.