Four Companies Awarded Bids Following 12-Month Competition

Sikorsky Aircraft announced Wednesday it has selected four subcontractors to design and fabricate the major fuselage sections for its new CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter currently under development for the United States Marine Corps.

Sikorsky's Fuselage Team will consist of Aurora Flight Sciences, EDO Corp., GKN Aerospace, and Spirit AeroSystems. They were selected following an extensive solicitation and evaluation of multiple bids over a 12-month competition.

"Sikorsky is pleased to welcome four new team members to the CH-53K helicopter program. This evaluation was one of the most complex undertaken by Sikorsky to date, and we are confident that the sources selected provide the best value and lowest risk for our Marine Corps customer. The combination of Aurora, EDO, GKN, and Spirit brings world class capability, experience and innovation to the CH-53K team," said Dave Haines, Sikorsky's CH-53K Program Manager.

These selected sources will design and manufacture the CH-53K primary and secondary structures. Sikorsky will conduct the integration and test program on the complete fuselage structure. The major subcontracted sections include the cockpit and cabin (Spirit), aft transition (GKN), tail rotor pylon and sponsons (EDO), and main rotor pylon (Aurora). The fuselage development program will employ the latest advanced design tools, manufacturing processes and materials.

Design will be conducted in a collaborative environment between supplier sites and Sikorsky's Heavy Lift Development Center using model management systems paired with Sikorsky data collaboration and knowledge management systems. Composite and titanium materials are being employed extensively to provide superior fatigue and corrosion durability at minimum weight. State-of-the-art manufacturing processes such as co-curing, automated part fabrication, super high speed machining, and determinant assembly are intended to make the structure very affordable.

Under the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract, Sikorsky is responsible for selecting and managing the subsystem suppliers. Other major subsystems recently awarded on the program include the engines, fly-by-wire flight controls, and electric power system. Additional major subsystem awards anticipated in the coming months will be for the secondary power system, landing gear, hydraulic, fuel, and drive systems.
The SDD contract is expected to lead to production of 156 CH-53K aircraft to replace the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters currently in the Marine Corps' inventory.

Sikorsky tells ANN the three-engine Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest, most powerful maritime helicopter in the world. It is deployed from Marine Corps amphibious assault ships to transport personnel and equipment, and to carry external (slung) cargo loads. The CH-53K will maintain virtually the same footprint as the CH-53E, but will nearly double the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "hot high" ambient conditions. The CH-53K's maximum gross weight will increase to 84,700 pounds from 72,500 pounds for the CH-53E.

The CH-53K also is expected to result in reduced operation and support costs. Upgrades include joint interoperable glass cockpit; fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth generation rotor blades with anhedral tip; low-maintenance elastomeric rotorhead; gross weight expansion; upgraded engine system; cargo rail locking system; external cargo handling improvements; and survivability enhancements.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com