CH-53K King Stallion helicopter rolled out
A roll-out ceremony for the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter was held by Sikorsky in Florida on 5 May. During the unveiling ceremony, Gen Amos, Commandant of the US Marine Corps, introduced the name chosen for the aircraft when it enters service as ‘King Stallion.’
Sikorsky expects the CH-53K to enter service with the US Marine Corps in 2019. The programme is currently in a two-year test phase that will see the rotor blades, transmission, engines on the Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) tested, prior to the commencement of flight test aircraft testing.
The ceremony was attended by members of US congress, the US Department of Defense, major suppliers to the programme, international guests and Sikorsky representatives.
Speaking at the event, Mick Maurer, president, Sikorsky, said: ‘The rollout of the CH-53K helicopter introduces a new era in marine corps aviation and is an exciting milestone in our company's 91 year history.
‘The CH-53K aircraft will effectively triple the external load carrying capacity of the CH-53E aircraft - to more than 27,000 pounds over a mission radius of 110 nautical miles. With its 88,000-pound maximum gross weight, powerful new engines, lightweight composite structure, new rotor blades and fly-by-wire flight controls, the CH-53K will have the means to move troops and equipment from ship to shore, and to higher altitude terrain, more quickly and effectively than ever before.’
The current programme of record would see the US Marine Corps order 200 CH-53K production aircraft and stand up eight operational squadrons and one training squadron to support the marine corps' operational requirements. Eventual production quantities would be determined year-by-year over the life of the programme.
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