Honeywell has secured an order to supply 41 T55-GA-714A engines for South Korea's new CH-47F helicopters. This initiative is part of South Korea's replacement of its old CH-47D aircraft. Managed by the U.S. Army's Office of Foreign Military Sales, the case highlights Honeywell's long-standing relationship with South Korea.

Follow Air Recognition on Google News at this link

Honeywell's T55 engine is a world leader in heavy-lift helicopter motorization (Picture source: Honeywell Aerospace)

Honeywell's T55 engine is a world leader in heavy-lift helicopter propulsion. Currently, more than 1,000 CH-47 helicopters equipped with T55 engines are in operation around the world, serving the military and civil aviation sectors. The latest T55-GA-714A configuration produces nearly 5,000 horsepower, allowing Chinook aircraft to reach speeds of up to 170 knots, even in difficult conditions.

Dave Marinick, President of Engines and Power Systems at Honeywell Aerospace, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue supporting South Korea with their new CH-47F Block I helicopters. "The latest contract to supply 41 T55 engines is a testament to of South Korea's confidence in our combat-proven engines," Marinick said. To date, T55 engines have logged approximately 12 million operating hours on Boeing CH-47 and MH-47 Chinook helicopters.

Honeywell first delivered the T55 engine to the U.S. Army in 1961, initially providing 2,200 horsepower for the CH-47A helicopter. Since then, engine power has more than doubled, reaching the 5,000 horsepower class. Continued development aims to further increase output while improving maintainability, and reliability and reducing operating costs.

Honeywell is already working on the next generation of the T55 family, the T55-GA-714C. This new engine is expected to produce up to 6,000 horsepower while consuming 8 percent less fuel than the current T55 model.