GE Aviation, in cooperation with the US Army, has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the T901-GE-900, GE’s next-generation engine that will power a large portion of the Army’s rotorcraft fleet ‘for decades to come’.

In 2019, the US Army selected the T901 engine for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the Improved Turbine Engine (ITE) programme to re-engine its Boeing AH-64 Apache and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk fleet. The Army has also selected the 3,000shp engine for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme.

CDR is considered a significant EMD milestone. Prior to the week-long Engine Systems CDRs, Engine Control System Components (ECSC) and Software CDRs, as well as numerous Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), were conducted.

CDR ‘entrance criteria’ includes GE’s submittal of more than 35 ‘deliverables’ supporting the Army’s “review and approval of the T901’s requirements flow down, analysis and life assessments, schedules, manufacturing and test plans”.

While these reviews would typically be conducted in person, due to the Coronavirus pandemic all these reviews were conducted virtually. Completion of CDR allows GE Aviation to move ahead to its next critical milestone, First Engine To Test (FETT) for the XT901. FETT is scheduled for Q4 FY21.

GE Aviation continues to make strides to accelerate the programme and ‘remains committed’ to the Army’s goal of accelerating the testing and delivery of the engine. A team of about 250 employees in Lynn (Massachusetts) and Cincinnati (Ohio) are undertaking the EMD phase of the T901 programme.