“We have entered a much anticipated phase in
this developmental program,” said Col. Hank
Vanderborght, U.S. Marine Corps Program Manager
for Heavy Lift Helicopters. “We have experienced
significant learning at the system and
sub-system levels, which continues to build our
confidence in the capabilities of the 53K.
With first flight behind us, we look
forward to execution of the development and
operational testing and the deployment of this
incredible heavy lift capability to our
warfighters.”
Sikorsky, with support of others in the
industry, is developing the CH-53K King Stallion
heavy lift helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps.
The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter will
maintain similar physical dimensions as its
predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E
SUPER STALLION helicopter, but will nearly
triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110
nautical miles under “high hot” ambient
conditions.
Features of the CH-53K helicopter include a
modern glass cockpit; fly-by-wire flight
controls; fourth-generation rotor blades with
anhedral tips; a low-maintenance elastomeric
rotor head; upgraded engines; a locking, United
States Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail
system; external cargo handling improvements;
survivability enhancements; and improved
reliability, maintainability and supportability.
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