Team Of Engineers To Develop Newest USMC Super Stallion

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation told ANN it has officially dedicated its CH-53K program's new Heavy Lift Development Center at a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by state and local elected officials and more than 50 invited guests. Presiding over the ceremony was US Marine Corp Deputy Commandant for Aviation General John G. Castellaw (below).

Sikorsky's new center houses the CH-53K program and engineering staff, a team consisting of Sikorsky, Naval Air Systems Command, Defense Contracting Management Agency personnel and subcontractors.

The new 106,000-square-foot office building is located in Stratford, CT, approximately five miles from the main Sikorsky facility.

Sikorsky was awarded a $3 billion System Development and Demonstration contract for the United States Marine Corps CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter in April last year. Under the terms of the SDD contract, Sikorsky will oversee aircraft development, systems integration, test article production and test and evaluation activities on a sole source basis.

"The CH-53K Heavy Lift Development Center creates an integrated environment that will coordinate our efforts across functions as we develop this program to its full potential," said Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino. "The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter has been the most capable marinized heavy-lift helicopter in the world for more than 25 years. The new CH-53K promises a marked improvement in payload, range, and 'hot-high' capabilities - taking this great aircraft into the next phase of its illustrious career as Sikorsky continues to pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere... every time."

The SDD contract could lead to the production of 156 CH-53K (artists rendering below) aircraft to replace roughly an equal number of aging CH-53E Super Stallions currently operational with the Marine Corps. Congress and the Pentagon have yet to set precise numbers.

Sikorsky claims the three-engine Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest, most powerful marinized helicopter in the world. The Marine Corps frequently deploys the aircraft from amphibious assault ships to transport personnel and equipment, and to carry external (sling) loads.

The company says the CH-53K will be the same size as the CH-53E with nearly double its payload -- up to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under hot-high ambient conditions. Sikorsky plans to boost the CH-53K's max takeoff weight to 84,700 pounds -- up nearly 12,000 over the CH-53E.

According to Sikorsky, upgrades slated for the CH-53K include: joint interoperable glass cockpit fly-by-wire flight controls; high-efficiency rotor blade with anhedral tip; low-maintenance elastomeric rotorhead; gross weight expansion; upgraded engine system; cargo rail locking system; external cargo handling improvements and survivability enhancements; and reduced operation and support costs.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com