General Electric receives $84M for Blackhawk, Apache engine overhauls

Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The Department of Defense has announced a new deal with General Electric for the overhaul and recapitalization of the T700 series of engine in support of Blackhawk and Apache helicopters.

The deal is classified as a firm-fixed-price contract worth $84 million.

In December 2016, GE was awarded an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract worth an estimated $1 billion for as many as 2,500 T700 engines. to support all four branches of the U.S. military, including the U.S. Coast Guard and foreign military sales, through 2019.

Vice President and General Manager of GE Aviation's turboshaft and turboprop engines Harry Nahatis said in April that, "By consistently investing in upgrades that infuse GE's most advanced commercial and military technologies, GE's T700 has evolved through the years to meet or exceed our customers' performance expectations across a range of operating environments around the globe."

The T700 engines were developed for the U.S. Army to overcome the many shortcomings of the 1960s-era helicopter engines used in Southeast Asia.

The completion date for overhauls and upgrades is scheduled for November 2020.