The Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC) joint venture (JV) comprising Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney has received a contract to design a new engine for the US Army's Black Hawk and Apache helicopter fleets.

The contract has been awarded as part of the army's improved turbine engine (ITE) programme.

Under the two-year contract, the JV will provide preliminary designs of the HPW3000 turbine engine, which will improve performance over the current engine powering the helicopters.

"With the extensive improvements in helicopter performance it brings, the HPW3000 will mean greater mission success and safety for US warfighters."

The army is looking for a new engine that is 50% more powerful, 25% more fuel-efficient and provide 20% longer engine life over the current engine, while also meeting stringent performance goals in high altitude and hot conditions at 6,000ft and 95°F.

ATEC president Craig Madden said: "The HPW3000 underscores our dedication to developing an engine that will support Army Aviation superiority over potential adversaries.

"We are very confident in the engine design and in the results we've seen in testing so far. With the extensive improvements in helicopter performance it brings, the HPW3000 will mean greater mission success and safety for US warfighters."

Two HPW3000 demonstrator engines have recently underwent testing, during which they have validated various programme requirements.

Featuring 3,000shp and a dual-spool architecture, the HPW3000 uses latest gas turbine engine technologies.

ATEC said that the engine's dual-spool architecture offers optimised engine efficiency, decreased maintenance costs, extended engine life, and greater power growth capability.

Using HPW3000, the army will be able to generate $1bn in savings.