The HTS7500 turboshaft engine is the latest model in Honeywell’s family of military engines.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co., and Boeing named Honeywell as the engine provider for DEFIANT X, the advanced helicopter for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition.
The U.S. Army initiated FLRAA in 2019 to develop a new utility helicopter that will replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk starting in 2030.
The DEFIANT X weapon system builds on the handling qualities and capabilities proven by the team’s technology demonstrator, SB>1 DEFIANT.
With Honeywell providing the HTS7500 turboshaft engine, Team DEFIANT brings Army Aviation experience to FLRAA while integrating with legacy platforms and existing infrastructure.
The HTS7500 turboshaft engine is the newest and most technologically advanced model in Honeywell’s family of military engines, which includes the T55 engine that has powered the H-47 fleet for more than 60 years. Like the T55, the HTS7500 is designed to thrive in austere environments. The HTS7500 exceeds mission power and fuel consumption requirements.
Powered by a pair of HTS7500 engines, the DEFIANT X can fly 2x faster and farther than the Black Hawk and is currently being tested in a digital combat environment, where it continues to prove itself for mission requirements.
The new engine comes equipped with a modernized control system, which enables a highly secure flow of engine data. The control system improves operating capabilities, reduces life-cycle costs, and ensures engine health status through its digital thread road map.
“This engine builds upon the battle-proven architecture of the T55,” said Dave Marinick, president, Engines and Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace. “The engine is structurally similar, which is great for maintainers in the field because they can use current tools and training. However, when it comes to performance, the HTS7500 is 42% more powerful than the T55-GA-714A and has the lowest total weight compared to other engines in its horsepower class.”
“Team DEFIANT’s strength is built on the experience of Sikorsky and Boeing, and a commitment to Army Aviation,” said Mark Cherry, vice president and general manager of Boeing Vertical Lift. “Honeywell’s history with Boeing and the U.S. Army makes us even more confident that DEFIANT X is the best fit for the Army’s total mission.”
“DEFIANT X is a transformational aircraft, and Honeywell is giving us a transformational engine to power it,” said Paul Lemmo, president of Sikorsky.
“Honeywell is excited to be a part of Team DEFIANT and proud to play a part in the future of vertical lift for the U.S. Army,” said Ricky Freeman, president, Defense & Space at Honeywell Aerospace. “We’re confident our HTS7500 engine on the DEFIANT X platform will provide the Army with an agile, fast and maneuverable platform that will help ensure overmatch capability in the future battlespace.”
Together, Sikorsky and Boeing have built 90% of the U.S. Army’s current military rotorcraft and have totaled more than 15 million flight hours. Sikorsky-Boeing submitted the proposal for DEFIANT X for the U.S. Army’s FLRAA in September 2021. Contract award is expected this year.
HTS7500 turboshaft engine at a glance
• 42% power improvement (compared to T55-714A)
• 18% reduction in specific fuel consumption (compared to T55-714A)
• Commonality with already fielded U.S. Army hardware
Register to attend the Feb. 24, 12PM ET Manufacturing Lunch + Learn where you’ll hear from Norton | Saint Gobain and Strausak.
As cutting tool orders continue their recovery from disruptions due to the pandemic, there is a need in the market for high performing tools that provide a better value proposition to the end-user. During the first session, Norton | Saint Gobain experts, Philip Varghese and Alfredo Barragan, will discuss grinding product tiers and their key technology differences that help significantly lower cost per part when grinding cutting tools. Relevant end-user case studies involved in flute grinding, OD and clearance grinding of round tools (end mills, drills), as well as periphery and form grinding of inserts (carbide, PCBN) will be presented. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at the next generation products for round tool grinding and insert grinding that are being actively pursued and tested in the cutting tool market by Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives.
The second session will highlight the Strausak model ONE, the new flexible 5-axis CNC tool grinding machine for the orthopedic industry. The machine allows particularly long flute length which is common with surgical drills and reamers. This scalable model has been designed so that any options can be upgraded and retrofitted at any time during the life of the machine to help the user to stay competitive in a dynamic and unpredictable environment. Kris Zellmann, Strausak's National Sales Manager for the U.S. will lead the presentation. Strausak is a member of the Swiss Rollomatic Group of Companies specializing in the design and manufacturing of high precision CNC machines for production grinding and resharpening of cutting tools as well as orthopedic instruments and implants.
Make sure to register today.
Get those questions answered when you attend the Automation Roundtable Feb. 16, 2022 @12PM ET.
Automation plays a significant role in manufacturing productivity and the quality of part production, yet not all companies are embracing automation as they should. As advancements in automation continue, there are still questions about the best approach to implementing automation and where to start.
On February 16, 2022, our automation webinar features experts from HIGH QA, SCHUNK, and THK, who will discuss trends and answer questions concerning adopting and implementing automation.
Development in robotics, industrial vision, and collaborative automation open new capabilities in manufacturing automation and engineering. Don’t miss this webinar!
Awarding $2,500 to veterans and students studying manufacturing as part of its annual scholarship program for 2022.
CNC Machines has recently re-launched its annual scholarship for 2022. The scholarship ($2,500) will be awarded to eligible students and veterans studying manufacturing in the USA. Through the years, CNC Machines has awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships, becoming one of the major solutions for closing the gap in manufacturing skills in the country.
The application process for the annual scholarship is now open. The last date of submission for the scholarship is September 23, 2022, 5:00 p.m. (EST).
In an exclusive interview, Curt Doherty, veteran CNC Machine dealer and founder of CNC Machines, shared that CNC Machines is driven by the mission to empower American manufacturers to upgrade their technology that will eventually contribute to the rise of a more powerful manufacturing industry in the country. The company aims to become the most contributing machinery dealer in the U.S.
“We are excited to share with you all that we have recently re-launched our annual scholarship program for students and veterans studying manufacturing in the country. Our investment is to promote the growth of American manufacturing. The future of manufacturing is in technology and being part of helping a student or a Veteran promotes the growth of American manufacturing,” Doherty said.
He stressed that the national manufacturing scene needs to upgrade to latest technical advancements and for that it needs a workforce equipped with state-of-the-art high-tech manufacturing skills and know-how. However, advanced courses are usually high-end and hence unaffordable for many otherwise willing students. In response, CNC Machines has launched the annual scholarship program to help students (and veterans) pursue high-tech courses in manufacturing that will eventually help to create a cutting-edge workforce for the national manufacturing sector.
The CNC Machines annual scholarship is for students and U.S. veterans studying manufacturing, engineering, or related fields. To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must actively pursue a certificate, certification, associates, bachelors, or master’s degree.
Veteran applicants will have to upload DD-214 discharge papers and an explanation behind their interest in a career in the manufacturing industry.
Student applicants will have to submit a unique original essay on the manufacturing sector in the country. Essay topics are given on the student scholarship application page.
CNC Machines, one of top used machinery dealers in the U.S., stocks machines from major brands, including Haas CNC, Fadal, Mori Seiki, Mazak, and others. From CNC mill to CNC lathe, CNC Machines can cater to a wide range of customers.
Under Doherty’s leadership, CNC Machines has also grabbed a feature in the prestigious list of INC 5000 fastest growing companies in the U.S.
Expands VIP cabin completion capability into widebody market.
Fokker Techniek has a contract with K5-Aviation for its first ever widebody VIP completion.
“We appreciate the direct lines with the knowledgeable engineering and production people plus their hands-on way of working,” says Erik Scheidt, managing director and pilot at K5-Aviation.
“It’s really the next level and we are very honored that K5-Aviation has entrusted us with this prestigious project,”, says Roland van Dijk, co-CEO of Fokker Techniek. “We have started preparations and will soon implement more changes to the company to keep up with the continuous growth in our Aircraft Completions and Conversions segment. Our orderbook demands additional workforce and an increase of in-house activities.”
Luca Madone of K5-Aviation says, “Fokker Techniek and K5-Aviation have a rich history with past projects and this new contract is a continuation of our relation. We fully believe in the strengths of Fokker Techniek; this agile organization has proven its skills before, and we expect the same again on this much larger aircraft.”
K5-Aviation took delivery of its first ACJ330-300 aircraft from Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ).
According to Airbus, the ACJ330-300 aircraft will feature a 243m² VIP cabin. The ACJ330-300 can fly more than 8,650nm (16,000km) or up to 18.5 hours, enough to fly nonstop from Europe to Australia. More than 210 Airbus corporate jets are in service worldwide.
K5-Aviation was founded in 2010 in Germany by four experienced aviation experts. It develops with its partners solutions for the business aviation sector. K5-Aviation is the largest ACJ operator in Europe with four ACJ319s and one ACJ350-900 in its fleet.
Fokker Techniek at Woensdrecht, The Netherlands, airport specializes in green aircraft completions, conversions, and refurbishments, for the VIP aircraft market, including Airbus ACJ and Boeing BBJ, and the special mission aircraft market. Fokker Techniek provides MRO support to private and commercial aircraft operators. In addition, Fokker Techniek provides component repair and full engineering support programs.