Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Firm (NYSE: LMT), delivered the third Low-Price Preliminary Manufacturing (LRIP) CH-53K helicopter forward of contract schedule to the U.S. Marine Corps. This plane, in-built Sikorsky’s digital manufacturing unit, is the primary CH-53K from the Lot 2 LRIP contract awarded by the U.S. Navy in 2019, and the seventh general delivered to the fleet. The CH?53K’s heavy-lift capabilities exceed all different U.S. Division of Protection rotary wing platforms and is the one heavy-lift helicopter that can stay in manufacturing by 2032 and past. This CH-53K heavy raise helicopter joins the six in operation at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
The Marines not too long ago declared Preliminary Operational Functionality (IOC) and have been flying and supporting the CH-53K within the fleet surroundings demonstrating the plane is on observe to deploy on schedule in 2024. The plane have flown greater than 3,000 flight hours showcasing the CH?53K’s efficiency in a variety of mission situations and difficult environments. The CH-53K will additional assist the U.S. Marine Corps in its mission to conduct expeditionary heavy raise assault transport of armored autos, gear, and personnel to assist distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based heart of operations, crucial within the Indo-Pacific area.
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“This Connecticut-built CH-53K plane is a credit score to our workers and their expertise embracing digital instruments and different superior applied sciences to proceed the Sikorsky legacy of constructing trendy, secure, dependable rotorcraft. Our nationwide provide chain helps the energetic manufacturing line as we put together to ship two extra CH-53K helicopters later this 12 months. We sit up for persevering with our progress towards subsequent 12 months’s full price manufacturing determination,” mentioned Invoice Falk, Director, Sikorsky CH-53K program.
Earlier this 12 months Sikorsky secured a contract to construct 12 CH-53K heavy raise helicopters for Israel below a U.S. Navy Overseas Navy Gross sales (FMS) settlement. The signed letter of supply and acceptance (LOA) between the U.S. Authorities and Israel states first deliveries of the baseline plane are deliberate for 2025. The CH-53K helicopters will exchange the Israeli Air Power (IAF) fleet of modified CH-53D Yasur helicopters, which have been in Israel’s stock for over 50 years. The all-new CH-53K delivers trendy state-of-the-art capabilities that end in improved survivability, security, and lowered aircrew workload over its predecessor, making it the right match for the demanding IAF mission.
The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter designed and produced by Sikorsky Plane. The King Stallion is an evolution of the lengthy working CH-53 collection of helicopters which have been in steady service since 1966, and options three uprated 7,500 shp (5,590 kW) engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider plane cabin than its predecessors. It’s the largest and heaviest helicopter within the U.S. navy. The CH-53K helicopter was born in a digital surroundings, and now its digital thread connects design, manufacturing, coaching, and sustainment groups. This community relies on the helicopter’s single, steady information thread that stays constant from preliminary design all through sustainment.
Sikorsky Plane is an American plane producer primarily based in Stratford, Connecticut. It was established by famed aviator Igor Sikorsky in 1923 and was among the many first corporations to fabricate helicopters for civilian and navy use. Beforehand owned by United Applied sciences Company, in November 2015 Sikorsky was offered to Lockheed Martin. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Company is a world safety and aerospace firm that employs roughly 114,000 folks worldwide and is principally engaged within the analysis, design, growth, manufacture, integration and sustainment of superior expertise methods, merchandise, and companies.
