Spirit delivers third King Stallion fuselage
Spirit AeroSystems has delivered the third fuselage of the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter to prime contractor Sikorsky, the company announced on 19 June.
With the delivery of the composite fuselage, Sikorsky will start assembling the third of four King Stallion helicopters covered under the System Demonstration and Test Article (SDTA) contract for the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The delivered fuselage includes the integrated cockpit and cabin structure and separately attached tail section. The SDTA contract will determine the final production configuration for the USMC's CH-53K aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems will deliver the fourth and final SDTA fuselage later in 2015 and Sikorsky will deliver the four SDTA helicopters by 2017.
The USMC will use the four helicopters to verify the King Stallion's design capabilities and endurance. All four aircraft are included in the existing $3.5 billion System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract awarded by the US Navy to Sikorsky in April 2006.
The USMC plans to order 200 CH-53K production helicopters, including the four SDTA aircraft. It will set up a training squadron, reserve squadron and eight active duty squadrons for the new helicopters.
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