The US Department of the Army has awarded a contract to the Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC), a joint venture of Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney, for the development and demonstration of advanced engine capabilities that could be applicable to a new fleet of future vertical lift combat helicopters.

The contract, part of the Army's Alternate Concept Engine (ACE) program, is a science and technology effort intended to develop and validate new engine designs that will significantly improve vertical lift, range, speed, payload, survivability, and reliability for Army Aviation rotorcraft. 

Under the ACE program, ATEC will demonstrate advanced variable speed turbine capabilities as well as other advanced technologies in a demonstrator engine test.  In addition, the program is also focused on reducing operational and life cycle costs, and the logistical footprint for both the engine and future rotorcraft.

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In addition, ATEC was recently awarded a contract for Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the Improved Turbine Engine (ITE), a more powerful and fuel efficient engine for the Army's fleet of UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters.