US military advances Black Hawk engine tests and E-2D Hawkeye upgrades

The United States Department of War has announced significant progress in two major military aviation programs involving engine upgrades and airborne early warning systems.

General Electric has received its first certificate to proceed to the next phase of flight testing for the T901 turboshaft engines integrated into UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. Following over 90 hours of ground tests and hovering trials, as well as 2,600 hours of simulated and ground-based testing, the program is moving toward practical flight evaluations. While originally intended for the FARA program, the T901 is being developed for use in existing platforms, including the Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache families.

Separately, the military administration has approved a critical documentation review for the Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II modernization program. This upgrade focuses on the DSSC-6 software configuration, introducing glass cockpits and enhanced cybersecurity through new onboard computers. The program utilizes an open architecture to facilitate future updates. Flight testing for the E-2D Block II prototype is scheduled to begin in 2029. Northrop Grumman is currently managing export contracts for Japan and France, with a total order backlog of approximately 28 aircraft.