LYNN, Mass. -- The U.S. Army has awarded GE Aviation the third option year of the five-year GE/Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) partnership to support T700-701D engine overhauls. The partnership provides 100 percent material and technical/logistics support for the overhaul of all T700 series engines and modules produced at CCAD. 



Over the past seven years, GE has provided the Army depot with Lean Six Sigma initiatives and commercial best practices that have helped reduce engine turnaround time by 70 percent and increased production to more than 1,500 engines and modules per year. A key element of the CCAD work is the -701D conversion program to achieve the Army's single-fleet plan. To date, CCAD has produced more than 1,100 engine conversions. 



"As a result of the partnership with CCAD, the progress on -701D upgrades has been very solid," said Scott Reed, GE's Director - T700 US Military Programs. "CCAD has worked hard to implement process improvements and is now performing quality upgrades and conversions on a range of Army T700 engines." 



The Army announced in 2004 plans to convert its entire Apache and Black Hawk helicopter fleet to the T700-701D engine. Based on estimated workload at CCAD, retrofitting all remaining Apache and Black Hawk engines could be accomplished over the next three to four years. 



The -701D features improved hot-section components that are estimated to provide at least twice the hot section durability, lower life-cycle costs, and 5% more power than the current T700-701C engine. Rated at 2000 shaft horsepower, the -701D was awarded Army qualification in 2004. 



T700-701D opportunities for GE also exist in the foreign military sales market, covering 2,000-plus engines for both upgrades to current AH-64 and UH-60 operators and future AH-64 and UH-60M deliveries. 



GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.