Heavy Lift Helo "Ready To Proceed To Assembly, Testing"
Sikorsky's CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter has successfully
completed the Program Critical Design Review (CDR), signaling the
program is ready to proceed to assembly, test and evaluation, the
company announced Tuesday.
CH-53
The joint Sikorsky/Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) CH-53K
helicopter program team hosted a weeklong meeting in late July to
gather stakeholders and key collaborators from government and
industry for an in-depth aircraft design review. At the review, the
CH-53K team successfully demonstrated that the design meets the
system requirements, setting the stage for the next phase of the
program. Review participants included members of the Office of the
Secretary of Defense, NAVAIR, Sikorsky Aircraft, and 21 major
industrial partners who displayed component exhibits that augmented
technical presentations.
Over the past four years, the CH-53K helicopter team has
successfully completed numerous major reviews, including the System
Requirements Review (SRR), System Functional Review (SFR), System
Preliminary Design Review (PDR), 77 supplier-level Critical Design
Reviews (CDR's), 64 supplier and internal software reviews, and 16
sub-system CDRs.
David Cohen, chairman of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
Technical Review Board (TRB) emphasized the Board's approval with a
"resounding yes," adding that "the CH-53K helicopter program is
ready for full- scale development and manufacture of the test
aircraft."
Completion of the System CDR event demonstrates that the CH-53K
Helicopter Program continues to build on its strong design
foundation. NAVAIR CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Integrated Product
Team Co-lead, Lt. Col. Hank Vanderborght noted, "We have a program
that sits squarely on solid technical ground, and our team
continues to work diligently as we mitigate all schedule and cost
risks."
Over 93% of the design has been released for manufacturing.
System-level performance projections indicate all seven Key
Performance Parameters (KPPs) will be achieved with adequate risk
mitigation margin built-in for subsequent phases of the program.
The team is ready to move into fabrication and assembly of test
articles, component qualification, and flight test.
"This successful CDR confirms the program is on the right track
and is a significant step forward for the CH-53K helicopter
program," said John Johnson, Sikorsky Program Manager for the
CH-53K helicopter program. "Sikorsky and NAVAIR are well aligned in
this collaborative effort, and this CDR brings us closer to
delivering a vital tool to the U.S. Marine Corps' future heavy lift
mission."
Sikorsky has been building CH-53 helicopters for the Marine
Corps since the CH-53A aircraft was introduced in 1963. The heavy
lift mission is currently performed by the Sikorsky CH-53E SUPER
STALLION helicopter and CH-53D SEA STALLION helicopter models that
have logged a cumulative total of 1.37 million flight hours in over
40 years.
Sikorsky Aircraft received a $3 billion System Development and
Demonstration (SDD) contract on April 5, 2006 to develop a
replacement for the U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E heavy lift helicopter.
The new aircraft program is planned to include production of more
than 200 aircraft. Currently, the CH-53K helicopter is in the SDD
phase with all of the major subcontracts awarded and valued at over
$1.1B.
CH-53E Super Stallion
Mike Torok, Sikorsky Vice-President and Chief Engineer for
Marine Corps Programs, and Chief Engineer for the CH-53K, said the
program had reached a turning point. "The final design definition,
which meets NAVAIR and USMC requirements, is concluding, and now we
move on to the test and verification part of the program," he
said.
"Parts are being made throughout the supply base and at our new
Precision Component Technology Center; test facilities are being
fabricated and prepped for installation in our recently opened
ground test facility; the integrated simulation facility is
marching toward a late 2010 opening, already having received the
first increment of software for the aircraft; and the final
assembly facility in West Palm Beach is being prepared to start
building the ground and flight vehicles early next year. It's time
now to prove out our design and show that this helicopter system
will indeed meet the war fighting requirements of the USMC and give
them exceptional mission performance from a platform that is
affordable and supportable for many years to come," Torok
continued. The program is expected to achieve Initial Operational
Capability in FY18.