In 1967, General Electric began work on a new turboshaft engine demonstrator designated the "GE12" in response to US Army interest in a next-generation utility helicopter.

In 1967, both GE and Pratt & Whitney were awarded contracts to work parallel with each other to design, fabricate, and test the technology.

[2] The Army effort led, in the 1970s, to development of the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk, powered by twin GE "T700" turboshafts, the production descendant of the GE12.

[3] The initial "T700-GE-700" is an ungeared free-turbine turboshaft, with a five-stage axial / one-stage centrifugal mixed-flow compressor, featuring one-piece "blisk" axial stages, with the inlet guide vanes and first two stator stages variable; an annular combustion chamber with central fuel injection to improve combustion and reduce smoke; a two-stage compressor turbine; and a two-stage free power turbine with tip-shrouded blades.

[4] The T706 is rated at 2,600 shp (1,939 kW) and increases the hot-and-high mission capability of the U.S. Army's MH-60M Black Hawk for Special Operations applications.