Honeywell is to develop advanced small gas turbine technologies for use in future military and commercial vehicles, as part of the US Army's Small Heavy Fuel Engine (SHFE) programme.
The technology will be demonstrated in a 700hp (520kW) engine that could be the basis for future unmanned air vehicle and rotorcraft powerplants.
"SHFE [technology] reduces fuel consumption by more than 20%, improves power-to-weight ratio by more than 50% and reduces life-cycle costs by more than 35%," says Honeywell.
The army says the demonstrated engine weight and fuel savings will improve future rotorcraft mission endurance by more than 20% compared with state-of-the-art turbine capabilities.
The $45 million, four-year SHFE programme is part of the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) programme, a US Department of Defense, Department of Energy and NASA drive to improve turbine affordability.
Source: Flight International