WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.,
May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT),
delivered the first CH-53 King Stallion helicopter to the U.S.
Marine Corps (USMC) today. The aircraft is the first of an expected
200 helicopters for the Marine Corps' fleet.
The CH-53K is the new build replacement for the U.S. Marine
Corps' aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet. The CH-53E first flew in
1974 and entered service with the USMC in 1981.
"Our first delivery of a CH-53K to the Marine Corps marks the
start of a new generation of true heavy lift helicopter deliveries
by Sikorsky that bring unsurpassed and expanded capability across
the modern battlefield to provide tremendous mission flexibility
and efficiency in delivering combat power, humanitarian assistance
or disaster relief for those in need," said Dan Schultz, Sikorsky President and former CH-53
pilot. "With 18 additional aircraft in various stages of production
already, the entire Sikorsky team, in partnership with our
suppliers, is looking forward to additional deliveries to delight
our customer."
This first CH53K heavy lift helicopter will be stationed at
Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
There the helicopter enters into the Supportability Test Plan.
U.S. Marines will conduct a logistics assessment on the
maintenance, sustainment and overall aviation logistics support of
the King Stallion. This assessment also will validate maintenance
procedures with Marine Corps maintainers conducting hands-on
care/upkeep of the aircraft. The Supportability Test Plan will
ensure readiness and support on the flightline when CH-53K
helicopters enter into service with the USMC.
Sikorsky expects to deliver its second CH-53K helicopter to the
USMC in early 2019.
The CH-53K test program recently completed the following
milestones: maximum weight single-point cargo hook sling load of
36,000 pounds (16,329 kilograms); forward flight speed of over 200
knots; 60 degrees angle of bank turns; altitude of 18,500 feet mean
sea level (MSL); 12-degree slope landings and takeoffs; external
load auto-jettison; and gunfire testing.
"I am very proud of the work accomplished to deliver the most
powerful helicopter ever designed into the hands of our Marines,"
Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, Deputy
Commandant for Aviation, said. "And confident in the teamwork and
dedication in this program which will carry us to IOC (Initial
Operational Capability) next year."
Sikorsky is preparing its manufacturing facility in Stratford, Connecticut, to house CH-53K
production beginning this summer.
The heavy lift helicopter made its international debut and
showcased its maneuverability and advanced fly-by-wire technology
during demonstration flights at the recent ILA Berlin Air Show in
Berlin, Germany. For the
latest video and photos from the air show please visit our Twitter
and Facebook channels.
The CH-53K is an all new aircraft, using modern intelligent
design. The rugged CH-53K helicopter is designed to ensure
reliability, low maintenance, high availability and enhanced
survivability in the most austere and remote forward operating
bases.
For additional information, visit our webpage:
https://lockheedmartin.com/us/products/ch-53k-helicopter.html.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin