Fri, Apr 07, 2006
Sikorsky Awarded $3.0B Development Contract For Marine Corps
CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helo
Sikorsky has been
awarded a $3.0 billion System Development and Demonstration (SDD)
contract for the United States Marine Corps CH-53K heavy-lift
helicopter.
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 SDD
contract could lead to the production of 156 CH-53K aircraft to
replace roughly an equal number of CH-53E SUPER STALLIONs(TM) in
the Marine Corps' current inventory. Development money and
production quantities are determined year-by-year over the life of
the program based on funding allocations set by Congress and
Pentagon acquisition priorities.
SDD engineering and program administration activity will be
centered at Sikorsky's Stratford facility and begin
immediately.
"For more than two decades the Sikorsky CH-53E SUPER STALLION
(pictured right) has been the most capable marinized heavy-lift
helicopter in the world. The new CH-53K promises a marked
improvement in payload, range, and 'hot-high' capabilities and it
will be the only aircraft equipped the meet the Marine Corps'
unique and demanding requirements. We thank the Marine Corps for
showing confidence in Sikorsky to develop and build a new aircraft
that is vital to the nation and our armed forces," Sikorsky
President Jeffrey Pino said.
The three-engine
Sikorsky CH-53E SUPER STALLION is the largest, most powerful
marinized helicopter in the world. It is deployed from Marine Corps
amphibious assault ships to transport personnel and equipment, and
to carry external (sling) loads.
Sikorsky is currently conducting competitions to select
suppliers for the CH-53K major sub-systems, including the avionics
management system and the engine. Sub-system supplier selection is
scheduled to finish later in 2006.
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 versus
73,000 pounds for the CH-53E.
The 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.
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