SINGAPORE -- GE's T700/CT7 turboshaft and turboprop engines, with an installed base exceeding 12,000 engines, continue as the preeminent engines in their class. Powering 19 types of civil and military helicopters, plus regional airliners, military transports, and multipurpose aircraft, the engines have operated for over 40 million flight-hours, including service in the Iraqi Freedom campaign.
The CT7-8C, the newest and most powerful CT7 turboshaft engine, was selected in June to power the new Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk helicopter. Rated in the 3,000-shaft-horsepower (shp) class, the CT7-8C produces 25 percent more power than the CT7-8 and 85 percent more than the original T700-GE-700. The power increase is attributed largely to an upgraded high-pressure turbine and a new, three-stage low-pressure turbine (power turbine). In addition, the CT7-8C incorporates an advanced, fully redundant, dual-channel FADEC (Full Authority Digital Electronic Control) system. GE began testing the CT7-8C in January of this year.
Development flight-testing of U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Cobra helicopters, powered by T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines, and UH-1Y Huey helicopters, powered by T700-401C turboshaft engines, is scheduled to continue through late 2004. The Marine Corps plans to procure 100 UH-1Y aircraft upgraded from UH-1N aircraft and convert 180 AH-1W aircraft to AH-1Z aircraft. The cumulative engine value is estimated to be as much as $300 million. The T700-GE-401 and T700-GE-401C, rated in the 2,000-shaft-horsepower class, are significantly more powerful than the engines of other manufacturers powering earlier models of the H-1 series helicopters. The T700-GE-401C that powers the UH-1Y is a newer, more capable version of the T700-GE-401, offering eight percent more power. The T700-GE-401C is under consideration to power the AH-1Z in addition to the UH-1Y. Both engines serve to increase the AH-1Z and UH-1Y payload and range capabilities.
The U.S. Coast Guard has selected the EADS CASA CN235-300M aircraft powered by two GE CT7-9C3 turboprop engines as its new medium-range maritime patrol aircraft. The number of aircraft acquired will be based on the optimal mix of medium-range aircraft and long-range aircraft to meet the mission demands of the Coast Guard for both homeland and non-homeland security. Delivery of the first two CN235-300M aircraft is targeted for late 2006. The CT7-9C3, rated at 1,870-shaft-horsepower, was certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1998.
The T700-GE-701D is currently in flight-testing, powering Sikorsky's UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. The T700-GE-701D offers 25 percent more shp than the T700-GE-700 and 5 percent more shp than the T700-GE-701C that power UH-60A and UH-60L helicopters.
In the international market, the Japan Defense Agency (JDA) selected the T700-701C engine in April to power up to 80 Boeing AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopters, in an engine order valued at $50 million. Delivery of the engines is scheduled to begin in 2005. The T700-701C engine shares commonality with the current Japanese fleet of helicopter engines, and builds upon the existing support infrastructure to reduce cost.