FARNBOROUGH - General Electric Company (GE) and Samsung Techwin, Co. LTD (STW) have signed a contract to develop the T700 turboshaft engine for the Korean Helicopter Program (KHP).
The Republic of Korea (ROK) selected the GE T700/701K to power 245 new indigenous helicopters.
"The T700 offers proven experience and reliability, is well matched for the mission requirements of Korea, and offers high commonality with the existing support infrastructure," said Ed Birtwell, general manager of GE-Aviation's Turboshaft/Turboprop engine programs.
The 701K is the first rear-drive variant of the T700 engine, enabling easy installation into the KHP helicopter while providing opportunities to power other rear-drive applications. A modified derivative of the T700/701C (1,900 shaft horsepower class), the 701K is designed to provide power for hot-high requirements and also offers substantial growth margin to meet emerging Korean mission needs. T700/701C engines power Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks in Korea.
Under the contract, GE-Aviation and STW will jointly develop the engine. "STW will participate in all facets of the development program, including design, test, integration and qualification," said Paul Acquaviva, director, KHP Program. Manufacture of the first prototype engines will begin in 2008, with helicopters scheduled to begin flight tests in 2009.
For several decades, STW has assembled (under license) GE's T700, J79, and J85 engines powering ROKAF aircraft and LM2500 engines powering ROK Navy ships. GE-Aviation and STW are also working together on the T-50 advanced trainer/light combat aircraft, powered by GE's F404 engine, and F110 engines for the F-15K and LM500 engines for ROK Navy patrol ships. Since entering service, more than 13,000 T700/CT7 engines have amassed more than 50 million flight-hours powering aircraft in service throughout the world. GE-Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE-Aviation is also a global provider of maintenance and support services for operators of GE jet engines.