Sikorsky lands $55 mn contract for CH-53K initial production work

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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - Sikorsky
 
 
Sikorsky lands $55 mn contract for CH-53K initial production work
 
Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, landed a $55 million US Navy contract to support of low-rate initial production Lot II for four CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, the US Department of Defense announced on May 22.
     
The CH-53K King Stallion flies a test flight in West Palm Beach, Fla. on March 22, 2017.
(Credit: U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Molly Hampton)
     
"Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in March 2022.The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity," the US DoD said.

The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter was approved for production on April 4, 2017. Production is expected to begin in June 2017 at Sikorsky’s facility in Stratford, Conn. The recurring flyaway cost for the CH-53K is $87.1M. Recurring flyaway costs are the average cost for all production lots of aircraft, engines, contract/government furnished equipment, and engineering change orders.


With four aircraft in test, the CH-53K has logged over 491 cumulative flight hours to date. Initial operational capability continues on pace for 2019 and is defined as having four aircraft, with combat-ready crews, logistically prepared to deploy.

The U.S. Department of Defense's Program of Record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft. The U.S. Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.

The CH-53K King Stallion provides three times the heavy-lift capability of its predecessor, the CH-53E. With more than triple the payload capability and a 12 inch wider internal cabin, this increased payload capability can take the form of a variety of relevant payloads ranging from an internally loaded High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or the European Fennek armored personnel carrier, and up to three independent external loads at once, which gives incredible mission flexibility and system efficiency.