Fri, Aug 07, 2009
Still No Firm Date Set For Prototype Assembly To Begin
The first of the 8,500 supplier
parts that will constitute the new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter
Sikorsky is developing for the U.S. Marine Corps are rolling into
Sikorsky. Arrival of the parts - primarily transmission gear
forgings that Sikorsky machinists will intricately refine -
indicates steady and solid progress toward production of the first
prototypes.
"The arrival of the first forgings is a significant and visible
milestone for the program," said John Johnson, CH-53K Helicopter
Program manager. "It means the program is advancing from the
'paper' stages of engineering and design to the hardware stages of
castings and forgings. It is exciting to see such an impressive
aircraft start coming to life with these forgings for the dynamics
system."
The parts will support assembly of
the seven prototype vehicles that will be delivered during the
system design and development program. Of the seven, four will
serve as engineering development vehicles. The remaining three will
serve as a dedicated ground test vehicle, a static test article,
and a fatigue test platform. The prototypes will be assembled at
Sikorsky's Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, FL.
The CH-53K will replace the current three-engine Sikorsky CH-53E
Super Stallion helicopter. The CH-53E helicopter is currently the
largest, most powerful marinized helicopter in the world. It is
deployed from Marine Corps amphibious assault ships and land bases
to transport personnel and equipment, and to carry external (sling)
cargo loads.
The CH-53K helicopter will nearly triple the payload to 27,000
pounds transportable over 110 nautical miles under "hot high"
operational conditions. It will maintain the same footprint as the
CH-53E and have significantly lower operational costs. The CH-53K
helicopter's maximum gross weight (MGW) will increase to 74,000
pounds, versus 69,750 pounds for the CH-53E aircraft, and it will
be capable of carrying an external load of up to 88,000 pounds as
compared to 73,500 pounds for the CH-53E helicopter.
This new build helicopter will incorporate a joint interoperable
glass cockpit with fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth generation
rotor blades with anhedral tips; a low-maintenance rotorhead; new
GE38-1B engines; a 15 percent increase in cabin size; a cargo rail
locking system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability
enhancements; and reduced operational and support costs.
"The CH-53K helicopter is the only aircraft that meets the Marine
Corps' requirements for heavy lift. It will provide significant
improvement in operational capability and significant reduction in
cost of ownership. This aircraft also will operate in 'hot high'
conditions, all of which translates to a critical tool for the
Marine Corps," Johnson said.
Sikorsky Aircraft received a $3 billion System Development and
Demonstration contract on April 5, 2006 to develop a replacement
for the U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E heavy lift helicopter. The program
is expected to produce more than 200 new aircraft.
CH-53K Artists Rendering
The CH-53K helicopter team has successfully conducted several
risk reduction initiatives on two critical technologies - split
torque main gearbox and main rotor blade - and has implemented many
process and product improvement measures as a result. The program
conducted a successful Preliminary Design Review in September 2008,
and is tracking toward a Critical Design Review in 2010.
"We are pleased with the current performance of our team and
partners," said Mark Cherry, Vice President of Marine Corps
Systems. "The receipt of these first parts is validation of our
development process."
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