An Army Air Corps Apache helicopter.
By Thomas Grillo
The U.S. Army has awarded GE Aviation a two-year contract to design its GE3000 engine to retool nearly 3,000 Apache and Blackhawk helicopters.
While the amount of the contract for the Improved Turbine Engine Program was not disclosed, the federal investment is expected to support more than 100 engineers, primarily at GE in Lynn.
Designing, manufacturing, and supporting T700 engines for the Army’s Black Hawk and Apache helicopters has been a major part of GE Lynn’s business for decades.
City Councilor Peter Capano, who also serves as president of IUE/CWA Local 201, credited U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton for helping to make the contract happen.
“I want GE, my members and the people of Lynn to know that Congressman Moulton has actively supported the GE3000 and the GE38, another new engine line, and the machining work to be done in Lynn,” he said. “He is really important because he is on the Armed Services Committee.”
Moulton said he has been a key advocate for securing the contract in Lynn, working closely with GE to understand how the project supports national security and defense capabilities. He championed the project in a support letter sent to the Department of the Army.
“This is great news for our region and provides exciting momentum for our LEAD team efforts in Lynn,” said Moulton in a statement. “This contract will grow good-paying jobs, and it shows that GE Lynn is positioned to compete aggressively for a leading role in GE’s future engineering and advanced manufacturing needs.”
The GE3000 is a 3,000 horsepower engine that promises to provide advanced turboshaft propulsion capability for the Army’s Black Hawk and Apache helicopters.
Its new engine delivers the Army’s requirements for fuel efficiency and lower maintenance cost, GE said. In addition, it provides 50 percent more power and increased performance in difficult conditions, GE added.
GE said they are working to ensure that this next generation engine can deliver improved capability for the nation’s service men and women in the U.S. Army.
