FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW – July 11, 2016 – The United Kingdom has asked the Government of the United States of America to purchase on its behalf 50 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters that will be equipped with General Electric’s T700-701D engines. This will represent the first time GE has sold an off-the-shelf military engine to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.
In August 2015, the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the UK’s request to remanufacture the British Army Air Corps’ fleet of Apache Mk 1 aircraft, upgrading to the advanced AH-64E Guardian model.
“The T700-701D brings exceptional capability and reliability to the British Army Air Corps fleet with a proven legacy backed by 20 million hours of engine operation, much of which has been in hot and harsh environments across the world,” said Jean Lydon-Rodgers, Vice President and General Manager of GE Aviation’s Military Systems Operation. “With more than 22,000 GE employees working in the United Kingdom today, we are proud to make this announcement at Farnborough and are honored to be a part of the great Apache team.”
In addition to T700-701D engines, GE Aviation also provides the electrical power management system and avionics for the Apache, delivering more than 3,000 systems to date.
H+S Aviation, based in Portsmouth, UK, may provide engine service support to the upgraded UK Apache fleet. H+S Aviation is a GE-approved provider of repair and overhaul services for gas turbine engines including the General Electric CT7/T700 turboprop and turboshaft engines.
Over the decades, the T700/CT7 line has become increasingly more powerful and reliable. Many technological advances have been incorporated into the subsequent growth versions. Current models in the 2,000-3,000 shaft-horsepower range retain all the proven features and operating characteristics of earlier versions while delivering enhanced performance.
T700/CT7 helicopter engines power a variety of commercial and military applications including transport, utility and attack, medical evacuation, air rescue, special operations and marine patrol. They serve all five branches of the U.S. military and numerous international customers.
In 2015, GE Aviation commemorated delivery of its 20,000th T700/CT7 during a ceremony at its production facility in Lynn, Massachusetts. The engine fleet also surpassed 100 million flight hours in 2015.
Developed for the U.S. Army to overcome the many shortcomings of 1960s-era helicopter engines experienced in Southeast Asia, the T700 turboshaft was designed to operate reliably in any environment and be easily maintained. Upon service entry in 1978 in the Black Hawk, the engine quickly proved its mettle in helicopter service.
GE’s turboshaft production locations include: Lynn, MA (design, assembly, test); Rutland, VT (compressor vanes): Hookset, NH (blisks tubes, compressor vanes); Madisonville, KY (turbine blades, nozzles); Dayton, OH (tubes, brackets, ducts); Muskegon, MI (turbine shrouds, nozzles); Strother, Kansas (assembly, overhaul); Jacksonville, FL (electrical components).
ABOUT GE AVIATION
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.