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25 October 2023
by Zach Rosenberg
Sikorsky takes delivery of the GE T901 ITEP engine. (Lockheed Martin)
The US Army has delivered two General Electric T901 Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) engines to Bell Helicopters and Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky, intended to power the companies’ respective Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competitors. The companies took receipt of the 3,000 shaft horsepower engines on 20 October.
Both FARA competitors, the Bell 360 and Sikorsky Raider X, were effectively complete except for the engine. The T901’s delivery has been delayed multiple times, most recently from late 2022.
Both Bell Helicopters and Sikorsky intend to immediately install test instrumentation on the engines and integrate them into their prototypes; initial power-ons and ground testing are to follow, culminating in first flights planned for late 2024.
“Now that we have received the engine, we are ready to begin working toward ground runs and other necessary preparations before first flight later next year,” said Bell Helicopters’ FARA programme manager Jayme Gonzalez.
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