Advanced Affordable Turbine Engine
Encyclopedia
The Advanced Affordable Turbine Engine (AATE) program is a United States Army
project to develop an improved engine for use in many Army helicopters.
. The AATE program is under the larger research and development umbrella of the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) program. AATE's objective is to develop technologies for a 3,000 shaft horsepower engine that reduces specific fuel consumption
by 25%, improves shaft horsepower to weight ratio by 65%, improves design life by 20%, reduces production and maintenance cost by 35%, and reduces development cost by 15% all from year 2000 fielded engine levels. The program began in 2006.
In July 2009, the U.S. Army released a request for information signaling a new program, the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). This solicitation is the first step in developing an engine that that uses the advancements and research the AATE program started. The engine developed for ITEP is to be a drop-in replacement for the General Electric T700 engine that currently powers the AH-64 Apache
and the UH-60 Black Hawk. The program seeks to realize the goals set by the AATE program, as well as meet more specific goals, such as improving lift capability for the AH-64 and the UH-60 in hot climates and high altitudes as well as increasing aircraft mission radius by as much as 500 km.
Both GE Aviation and the Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC) are developing engines for this program, the GE3000 and the HPW3000 respectively. ATEC is a 50/50 joint venture created in 2007 between Honeywell Aerospace
and Pratt & Whitney
Military Engines.
While little information has been released as of September 2009 about either engine, the HPW3000 has been reported to be a two-spool engine that can start with or without an auxiliary power unit
(APU). The GE3000 engine is also reported to have the ability to perform an APU-less start.
ATEC expects to begin full engine testing by 2011.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
project to develop an improved engine for use in many Army helicopters.
Program history
Advanced Affordable Turbine Engine (AATE) program is a project of the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology DirectorateAviation Applied Technology Directorate
The United States Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate is a tenant activity located at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is a directorate of the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center , a part of the Research, Development and Engineering Command .-History:The...
. The AATE program is under the larger research and development umbrella of the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) program. AATE's objective is to develop technologies for a 3,000 shaft horsepower engine that reduces specific fuel consumption
Specific fuel consumption
Thrust specific fuel consumption or sometimes simply specific fuel consumption, SFC, is an engineering term that is used to describe the fuel efficiency of an engine design with respect to thrust output...
by 25%, improves shaft horsepower to weight ratio by 65%, improves design life by 20%, reduces production and maintenance cost by 35%, and reduces development cost by 15% all from year 2000 fielded engine levels. The program began in 2006.
In July 2009, the U.S. Army released a request for information signaling a new program, the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). This solicitation is the first step in developing an engine that that uses the advancements and research the AATE program started. The engine developed for ITEP is to be a drop-in replacement for the General Electric T700 engine that currently powers the AH-64 Apache
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
and the UH-60 Black Hawk. The program seeks to realize the goals set by the AATE program, as well as meet more specific goals, such as improving lift capability for the AH-64 and the UH-60 in hot climates and high altitudes as well as increasing aircraft mission radius by as much as 500 km.
Both GE Aviation and the Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC) are developing engines for this program, the GE3000 and the HPW3000 respectively. ATEC is a 50/50 joint venture created in 2007 between Honeywell Aerospace
Honeywell Aerospace
Honeywell Aerospace is a major provider of aircraft engines, APUs, avionics, and other systems in the aerospace industry. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, it is a division of the Honeywell International conglomerate.-Aircraft engines:...
and Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
Military Engines.
While little information has been released as of September 2009 about either engine, the HPW3000 has been reported to be a two-spool engine that can start with or without an auxiliary power unit
Auxiliary power unit
An auxiliary power unit is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft, as well as some large land vehicles.-Function:...
(APU). The GE3000 engine is also reported to have the ability to perform an APU-less start.
ATEC expects to begin full engine testing by 2011.
External links
- "US Army engine competition strained by budget pressures". Flight International, 27 April 2011.