Engine and power systems for Black Hawk replacement selected

Honeywell engine and power systems have been selected for Sikorsky-Boeing’s Defiant X helicopter, which is currently a contender for the US Army’s Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition.

Team Defiant selected Honeywell's GTCP 36-150 auxiliary power units (APUs) series, as well as its main engine generator and APU generator.

These new selections come after Lockheed Martin Sikorsky-Boeing recently announced the selection of Honeywell's HTS7500 turboshaft engine for the Defiant X.

The HTS7500 turboshaft engine is the newest and most technologically advanced model in Honeywell's family of military engines, which includes the iconic T55 engine that has powered the CH-47 fleet for over 60 years.

Honeywell's APU for the Defiant X is a derivative of the existing GTCP 36-150 APU series. This new version is equipped with the latest compressor technology originally developed for the commercial aircraft sector. The APU was customised to meet the aircraft installation and performance objectives of the US Army.

Today's 36-150 APU series delivers compressed air for main engine starting air conditioning, anti-ice and heating systems. They are also capable of delivering air and shaft power simultaneously or individually. More than 20 proven variations modified for military and commercial aircraft are flying today.

"Our rugged and reliable GTCP 36-150-APU series is an ideal candidate to meet the installation and demanding performance needs of the Defiant X," said David Shilliday, vice president and general manager, Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace. "Honeywell has delivered more than 10,000 of these APUs since production started in 1979, and we believe this new, low-risk version will help Team DEFIANT win the FLRAA competition."

Along with the GTCP 36-150 APU series, the Sikorsky-Boeing team also selected two other Honeywell power technologies: the main engine generator will provide electricity to the aircraft while in flight, and the APU generator will provide electricity to the aircraft on ground.

Defiant X aims to be the fastest, most manoeuvrable assault helicopter in US history. It can fly two times faster and farther than the Black Hawk and is currently being tested in a digital combat environment, where it continues to prove its unmatched range and survivability.

FLRAA was initiated by the US Army in 2019 to develop a new utility helicopter that will replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk starting in 2030.

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