{"id":15361,"date":"2017-10-09T18:39:06","date_gmt":"2017-10-09T18:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/09\/ge-completes-tests-of-first-engine-for-next-gen-army-rotorcraft\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:30:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:30:14","slug":"ge-completes-tests-of-first-engine-for-next-gen-army-rotorcraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/ausa-digital-show-dailies\/2017\/10\/09\/ge-completes-tests-of-first-engine-for-next-gen-army-rotorcraft\/","title":{"rendered":"GE completes tests of first engine for next-gen Army rotorcraft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 General Electric has completed tests of its first Future Affordable Turbine Engine, which one day may power the Army\u2019s Future Vertical Lift rotorcraft, the company announced Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled with the results from the first FATE full engine test, which completed all primary objectives with more than 40 hours of run time and nearly 1000 steady state and transient data points. This risk-reduction vehicle is a key step in the program towards our final build and performance demonstration,\u201d Harry Nahatis, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation\u2019s Turboshaft Engine Department, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GE Aviation plans on beginning tests of a second FATE engine next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal of FATE is to develop a more powerful engine in the 5,000 to 10,000 shaft horsepower class, which the Army believes is necessary to power its next generation of rotorcraft called Future Vertical Lift. The engine will also be more effective at high altitudes and hot temperatures and should have a longer range and endurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the service\u2019s requirements, FATE should reduce fuel consumption by 35 percent and cut production and maintenance costs by 45 percent compared to currently fielded engines. The Army is also requiring an 80 percent improvement in power-to-weight ratio and 20 percent improvement in design life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GE Aviation first won a contract for the FATE program in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GE Aviation began evaluating its first FATE engine last year after successfully completing demos of the compressor, combustor and turbine rig in 2015 and doing inlet particle separator tests in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the AUSA conference, GE also announced that it had wrapped up six months of self-funded tests of a T901 prototype, which the company said proves it\u2019s ready for the next phase of the Improved Turbine Engine Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\t