Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

Euronaval
  • News
  • Event News
    • Indo Pacific 2022
    • Sea Air Space 2022
    • DIMDEX 2022
    • WDS 2022
    • DSEI 2021
    • MADEX 2021
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»Sikorsky Delivers 7th CH-53K Helicopter to USMC
Sikorsky Delivers CH-53K Helicopter To U.S. Marine Corps
Sikorsky delivered a seventh CH-53K Helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps. The heavy lift helicopter will be based at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina (Lockheed Martin photo)

Sikorsky Delivers 7th CH-53K Helicopter to USMC

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, delivered the third Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) CH-53K helicopter ahead of contract schedule to the U.S. Marine Corps.

Naval News Staff 15 Jul 2022

Lockheed Martin press release

This aircraft, built in Sikorsky’s digital factory, is the first CH-53K from the Lot 2 LRIP contract awarded by the U.S. Navy in 2019, and the seventh overall delivered to the fleet.  The CH‑53K’s heavy-lift capabilities exceed all other U.S. Department of Defense rotary wing platforms and are the only heavy-lift helicopter that will remain in production through 2032 and beyond.

This CH-53K heavy lift helicopter joins the six in operation at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The CH-53K is the only sea-based, long range, heavy lift helicopter in production and will immediately provide three times the lift capability of its predecessor.

“This Connecticut-built CH-53K aircraft is a credit to our employees and their skills embracing digital tools and other advanced technologies to continue the Sikorsky legacy of building modern, safe, reliable rotorcraft. Our nationwide supply chain supports the active production line as we prepare to deliver two more CH-53K helicopters later this year. We look forward to continuing our progress toward next year’s full rate production decision.”


Bill Falk, Director, Sikorsky CH-53K program

Building Helicopters in Sikorsky’s Digital Factory

Sikorsky Delivers CH-53K Helicopter To U.S. Marine Corps

The CH-53K helicopter was born in a digital environment, and now its digital thread connects design, manufacturing, training, and sustainment teams. This network, which includes everything from work instructions to maintenance manuals, is based on the helicopter’s single, continuous data thread that stays consistent from initial design all the way through sustainment. Today, all of Sikorsky’s aircraft programs are born in a digital environment. The power of this digital thread drives affordability, producibility and reliability across the aircraft lifecycle.

The CH-53K is Sikorsky’s pioneer digital technology program with advancing installation of wheels, electrical units, hydraulics and more.

The high-tech production line in Connecticut is active with seven aircraft in build on final assembly.

Factory Prepares for CH-53K FMS

Sikorsky Delivers CH-53K Helicopter To U.S. Marine Corps
CH-53K King Stallion

Earlier this year Sikorsky secured a contract to build 12 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters for Israel under a U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement.

The signed letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) between the U.S. Government and Israel states first deliveries of the baseline aircraft are planned for 2025.

The CH-53K helicopters will replace the Israeli Air Force (IAF) fleet of modified CH-53D Yasur helicopters, which have been in Israel’s inventory for over 50 years. The all-new CH-53K delivers modern state-of-the-art capabilities that result in improved survivability, safety, and reduced aircrew workload over its predecessor, making it the perfect fit for the demanding IAF mission.

#OnlyTheKCan

The Marines recently declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and have been flying and supporting the CH-53K in the fleet environment demonstrating the aircraft is on track to deploy on schedule in 2024. The aircraft have flown more than 3,000 flight hours showcasing the CH‑53K performance in a range of mission scenarios and challenging environments.

The CH-53K will further support the U.S. Marine Corps in its mission to conduct expeditionary heavy lift assault transport of armored vehicles, equipment, and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations, critical in the Indo-Pacific region.

CH-53K USMC 2022-07-15
Tags CH-53K USMC
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Related Articles

USMC Conducts JLTV Shore-to-Ship Heavy Lift

USMC Conducts JLTV Shore-to-Ship Heavy Lift

Naval News Staff 11 Aug 2022
U.S. Marine Corps press release This was the first time a Marine Corps JLTV was ...
Latest Details on the USMC’s NMESIS and Long Range USV

Latest Details on the USMC’s NMESIS and Long Range USV

Peter Ong 22 Jun 2022
The U.S. Marine Corps replies to our inquiry on the numbers of NMESIS systems and Metal Shark USV Armament.
USMC Discusses Land-Based Tomahawk Missile Launchers

USMC Discusses Land-Based Tomahawk Missile Launchers

Peter Ong 09 Jun 2022
The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) are moving closer to fielding Land-based Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from tractor-trailers

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved