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"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,"
said Sikorsky President Mick Maurer. "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."
GE Aviation's all-new T408 engine plays a key
role in the increased capability of the CH-53K
helicopter. Compared to the CH-53E aircraft's
T64 turboshaft powerplant, the three new engines
provide 57 percent more power for approximately
20 percent lower specific fuel consumption.
To convert the extra engine power into torque
and shaft horsepower within a similarly-sized
main gearbox, Sikorsky developed a new transmission
that efficiently transfers the engine power to
the CH-53K helicopter's main rotors.
For increased lift, Sikorsky developed the largest
and most technologically advanced main rotor blade
the company has ever produced. At 35 feet span
length, and almost three feet chord width, the
all-composite blade has 12 percent more surface
area than the CH-53E blade.
The new aircraft's major airframe sections were
built from strong, lightweight advanced composite
materials by Aurora Flight Sciences, Exelis, GKN
Aerospace and Spirit Aerosystems.
And to ensure exceptional flight handling qualities
and low pilot workload, a Rockwell Collins digital
glass cockpit governs a fly-by-wire flight control
system developed by Sikorsky, UTC Aerospace Systems,
Eaton and BAE.
The CH-53K is one of the first all-digitally
designed helicopters. This approach enabled Sikorsky
to assemble the aircraft inside a 3D virtual reality
lab at its Stratford, Connecticut, headquarters
before prototype production began.
"Our 'build before you build' approach
allowed our engineers to work 'inside' the helicopter,"
said Maurer, "to verify assembly designs
and correct issues long before discovery and expensive
rework on the assembly line."
To ensure smart, affordable logistics support
during the life of the aircraft, Sikorsky and
the government are applying methodology that will
enable the Marine Corps to analyze flight, maintenance
and performance data from every aircraft. By identifying
trends across the fleet, the Marines are expected
to realize significant improvements in aircraft
readiness and reduced operational costs compared
to the CH-53E fleet.
In April, Sikorsky began powered ground tests
of the CH-53K aircraft systems, such as rotors,
drive, electrical, hydraulic, avionics and flight
controls. Hundreds of hours of powered ground
tests will prepare the CH-53K team for first flight
at the end of 2014, and the start of a three-year
flight test program.
Per the current program of record, the Marine
Corps intends to 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 program based on funding allocations
set by Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense
acquisition priorities.
About Sikorsky
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is a subsidiary of United
Technologies Corp. based in Stratford, Connecticut.
The company is a world leader in helicopter design,
manufacture, and service. United Technologies
provides a broad range of high technology products
and support services to the aerospace and building
systems industries.
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