Lockheed Martin’s CH-53K King Stallion program has passed its Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) review and achieved a Milestone C decision that enables low rate initial production funding.
Numerous, completed pre-requisites preceded the Milestone C decision. Supplier as well as prime contractor Production Readiness Reviews took place throughout 2016 to establish the program's readiness to move into low rate initial production, the company announced Tuesday.
Aircraft maturity was established well in advance with over 400 flight hours achieved, and the October 2016 initial Operational Assessment by the US Marine Corps fully established the ability of the King Stallion to achieve critical mission flight and ground scenarios in the hands of active duty Marines.
Overall, post evaluation interviews of aircrew, ground crew and flight surgeons revealed a high regard for the operational capability demonstrated by the King Stallion.
The CH-53K King Stallion provides heavy lift capability with three times the lift of the CH-53E that it replaces.
With more than triple the payload capability and a 12-inch wider internal cabin compared to the predecessor, the King Stallion's increased payloads can range from multiple US Air Force standard 463L pallets to an internally loaded High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or a European Fennek armored personnel carrier, to up to three independent external loads at once.
The King Stallion also offers enhanced safety features for the warfighter, including full authority fly-by-wire flight controls and mission management that reduce pilot workload and enable the crew to focus on mission execution as the King Stallion all but "flies itself."
Other features include advanced stability augmentation, flight control modes that include attitude command-velocity hold, automated approach to a stabilized hover, position hold and precision tasks in degraded visual environments, and tactile cueing that all permit the pilot to focus confidently on the mission at hand.
Further, the CH-53K King Stallion has improved reliability and maintainability that exceeds 89% mission reliability with a smaller shipboard logistics footprint than the legacy CH-53E.
The US Department of Defense's Program of Record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft.
The first six of the 200 are under contract and scheduled to start delivery next year to the USMC. Two additional aircraft, the first LRIP aircraft, are under long lead procurement for parts and materials, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2020.
The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.
The German government has requested pricing and availability to buy 41 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters from US. “The Germans have started to communicate the need to replace the CH-53G in their heavy-lift program,” Mike Torok, Sikorskys CH-53K program vice president, said in a joint briefing with his Marine Corps counterpart, Col
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp today has achieved first flight of the US Marine Corps' CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter protoype, known as Engineering Development Model-1 (EDM-1). The 30-minute flight indicates the beginning of a 2,000-hour flight test program using four test aircraft, the company announced Tuesday
Sikorsky Aircraft has won a $38.8 million contract from the US department of Defense for procuring critical parts and associated support for two CH-53K system demonstration test article aircraft
The U.S
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, delivered the first of an expected 200 CH-53 King Stallion helicopter to the U.S
Israel has signed an agreement with Lockheed Martins Sikorsky to supply spare parts and associated engineering services in support of the CH-53D heavy lift helicopters. The helicopters are being operated by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) since 1969
Lockheed Martins Sikorsky Aircraft business unit won $55 million for four CH-53K Sea Stallion maritime helicopters. "Sikorsky Aircraft Corp
Lockheed Martin has introduced ‘iSpace also called as intelligent Space to protect their assets and missions in space. The intelligent Space benefits customers with sensor data processing, space domain awareness, command and control, and battle management capabilities for the space domain, the company announced Tuesday
Russia To Soon Test MC-21 Jet Powered By PD-14 Engine
Denmark to Integrate Kongsberg's Protector RWS On Piranha Military Vehicles
California to get three S-70i FIREHAWKS
Russian "Spy" Ship Receives Panama Canal Permit Following Brief Blockade
Germany To Finalise Order for 38 Eurofighter Jets, 110 E-Scan Radars
Turkish Navy to get First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier in 2020
Bechtel Bags US Navy's $1.4Bn Naval Nuclear Propulsion Components Contract
Indian Air Force to Buy 83 Tejas Jets by March 2020
Several joint production and direct procurement programs could be halted if the US and Europe carry through with their threat...
Sanctions-hit Iran has found ingenious ways to develop military hardware
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly permeating the defence industry to aid and improve human decision-making
Upgrade of Russias Sukhoi Su-30SM fighters to equip them with armaments, radar, sensors and engines from the more powerful Su-35...
US companies sanctioned by China for supplying weapons to Taiwan may be denied rare earth elements (REEs), which have critical...
While the US F-35 stealth aircraft has become one the fastest selling fighter jets in the world aircraft market, thanks...