Sikorsky Formally Responds To Call For Competition For Germany’s New Heavy Lift Helicopter

The CH-53K moves more equipment over longer distances and higher altitudes than any other heavy lift aircraft in production

The Sikorsky CH-53K, shown here during ILA Berlin 2018, is an all-new aircraft designed to ensure reliability, low-maintenance, high availability and enhanced survivability in extreme environments. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

BERLIN May 27, 2019 – Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), formally responded to the German Air Force "Schwerer Transporthubschrauber" (STH) Program call for competition. Sikorsky expects to offer the most modern heavy lift helicopter in production, the CH-53K King Stallion, in response to the official Request for Proposals, which is expected this summer. The new STH heavy lifter will allow the Bundeswehr to move troops and equipment more quickly, safely and effectively than ever before.

“The CH-53K is the modern heavy lift solution that will provide the German Armed Forces with a safe, reliable heavy lift helicopter that can be entered into service seamlessly without need for upgrades for the next several decades. It is the only heavy lifter that will remain in production through 2032 and beyond,” said Sikorsky President Dan Schultz. “Our strong German industry team will provide sustainment and maintenance over the next 40-50 years ensuring high-quality jobs across the country for decades to come.”

Sikorsky and its Germany industry partners, including Rheinmetall, remain confident that the Sikorsky CH-53K offers the best value to the Bundeswehr and offers unrivaled growth potential over its lifecycle. German partners include: Rheinmetall, MTU, ZF Luftfahrttechnik GmbH, Autoflug, HYDRO Systems KG, Collins Aerospace, Vincorion, Hensoldt, Liebherr and Rohde & Schwarz.

“Sikorsky is already today in close partnerships with more than 10 leading German technology companies, including the exclusive teammates Rheinmetall, MTU, Autoflug and HYDRO,” said Susanne Wiegand, Member of the Management Board, Rheinmetall Defence. “This team is a fundamental key factor for a successful STH program, high availability rates of the helicopters and creates best added value for Germany and its industry. We are looking forward that the procurement decision will be made in favor of the CH-53K.”

King Stallion Update
The U.S. Marine Corps on May 17 awarded Sikorsky a contract for 12 more CH-53K aircraft. Sikorsky is now on contract for a total of 14 LRIP aircraft, plus the four development and test aircraft that will also go to the Marines, with one aircraft already delivered. The Marine Corps program of record is 200 aircraft.

“We are very glad about the decision of the U.S. Marine Corps,” Wiegand said. “This sign of confidence from the U.S. government perfectly demonstrates the trust in the performance of the CH-53K. It is the most modern, intelligent and powerful available Heavy Lift Helicopter in the market and we were able to get an impression of the CH-53K’s enormous capabilities in USA. Countless successful test flights with the helicopter are approved for the advanced maturity of the test program.”

The all-new CH-53K, designed to be survivable in the most difficult conditions, has flown more than 1,400 test hours and has met all the outer reaches of the test envelope. The King Stallion is in the midst of a rigorous test program to ensure safe, effective operations moving more equipment over longer distances and higher altitudes than any other heavy lift aircraft in production.

Accomplishments to date include: high altitude, hot temperature, and degraded visual environment flights, maximum weight single-point cargo hook sling load of 36,000 pounds (16,329 kilograms); forward flight speed of over 200 knots; 60 degrees angle of bank turns; altitude of 18,500 feet mean sea level (MSL); 12-degree slope landings and takeoffs; external load auto-jettison; and gunfire testing.

Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion

©Sikorsky

El nuevo CH-53K es un helicóptero de alta capacidad, muy fiable y con mantenimiento reducido, lo que le permitirá operar bajo las condiciones más difíciles y desde los lugares más duros y austeros del mundo.

Ha superado ya las 1.400 horas en vuelos de pruebas y alcanzado todos los objetivos para los que fue diseñado sobre el papel. Por el momento se encuentra inmerso en el riguroso programa de test para garantizar que los ejércitos que lo operarán puedan transportar tropas y equipos a mayores altitudes de forma más rápida y segura.

Puede levantar más de 16 toneladas, lo que lo convierte en el helicóptero de carga pesada más poderoso jamás construido en los Estados Unidos. El diseño tecnológicamente avanzado del King Stallion cumplirá con los futuras necesidades en el campo de batalla durante las próximas décadas en misiones como ayuda humanitaria, transporte de tropas y equipo, evacuación de víctimas (CASEVAC), apoyo de fuerzas de Operaciones Especiales y búsqueda y rescate en combate (CSAR).

Los logros que ha conseguido hasta la fecha incluyen vuelos a elevada altitud, en altas temperaturas ambientales y con baja visibilidad, carga mediante gancho baricéntrico a un único punto de 36,000 libras (16.329 kilogramos), velocidad superior a los 200 kts, altitud de 18.500 ft, desembarques y despegues en pendientes de 12°, carga externas auto-expulsadas (mediante el gancho con auto-jettison), además de diferentes pruebas de fuego.

El CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter comenzó a realizar los test en entornos visuales degradados (DVE) en el campo de pruebas de Yuma. El área de aterrizaje designada para las mismas se remueve regularmente para crear las condiciones de polvo más extremas.

Aunque su apariencia es similar a los antiguos CH-53 es un helicóptero más rápido, robusto, liviano y con casi el triple de capacidad de carga útil frente a sus predecesores.

CH-53K, ©Sikorsky

Sus tres turboejes General Electric T408 entregan hasta un total de 22.500 CV de potencia.

Tiene una cabina más ancha en 30 cm frente a su competidor más directo, fabricada por Spirit AeroSystems en Kansas, con capacidad para transportar palés 463L y Fenneck europeo, ofrece una gran flexibilidad en su configuración para una mejor eficacia de la misión y facilitar la carga y descarga sin la necesidad de reconfigurarlo y retirar los asientos de tropa.

©Sikorsky

Sikorsky demostró la capacidad del King Stallion para su transporte aéreo estratégico, a través de un equipo de profesionales del propio fabricante se desmontó parte del helicóptero para meterlo en la bodega de carga de un C-17. El equipo completó el mismo ejercicio con un C-5, y como resultado el programa CH-53K obtuvo la certificación de Actividad de carga de pruebas de aerotransportabilidad de la USAF.

El King Stallion es un escalón más en los 50 años de éxito operacional y de fabricación de Sikorsky con sus predecesores, el CH-53A, CH-53D/G y CH-53E.

SIKORSKY BEGINS CH-53 KING STALLION HEAVY LIFT HELICOPTER DELIVERIES TO THE U.S. MARINE CORPS

CH-53K helicopter can lift three times the external load of its predecessor

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 16, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), delivered the first CH-53 King Stallion helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) today. The aircraft is the first of an expected 200 helicopters for the Marine Corps' fleet.

The CH-53K is the new build replacement for the U.S. Marine Corps' aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet. The CH-53E first flew in 1974 and entered service with the USMC in 1981.

"Our first delivery of a CH-53K to the Marine Corps marks the start of a new generation of true heavy lift helicopter deliveries by Sikorsky that bring unsurpassed and expanded capability across the modern battlefield to provide tremendous mission flexibility and efficiency in delivering combat power, humanitarian assistance or disaster relief for those in need," said Dan Schultz, Sikorsky President and former CH-53 pilot. "With 18 additional aircraft in various stages of production already, the entire Sikorsky team, in partnership with our suppliers, is looking forward to additional deliveries to delight our customer."

This first CH53K heavy lift helicopter will be stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

There the helicopter enters into the Supportability Test Plan. U.S. Marines will conduct a logistics assessment on the maintenance, sustainment and overall aviation logistics support of the King Stallion. This assessment also will validate maintenance procedures with Marine Corps maintainers conducting hands-on care/upkeep of the aircraft. The Supportability Test Plan will ensure readiness and support on the flightline when CH-53K helicopters enter into service with the USMC.

Sikorsky expects to deliver its second CH-53K helicopter to the USMC in early 2019.

The CH-53K test program recently completed the following milestones: maximum weight single-point cargo hook sling load of 36,000 pounds (16,329 kilograms); forward flight speed of over 200 knots; 60 degrees angle of bank turns; altitude of 18,500 feet mean sea level (MSL); 12-degree slope landings and takeoffs; external load auto-jettison; and gunfire testing.

"I am very proud of the work accomplished to deliver the most powerful helicopter ever designed into the hands of our Marines," Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, said. "And confident in the teamwork and dedication in this program which will carry us to IOC (Initial Operational Capability) next year."

Sikorsky is preparing its manufacturing facility in Stratford, Connecticut, to house CH-53K production beginning this summer.

The heavy lift helicopter made its international debut and showcased its maneuverability and advanced fly-by-wire technology during demonstration flights at the recent ILA Berlin Air Show in Berlin, Germany.  For the latest video and photos from the air show please visit our Twitter and Facebook channels.

The CH-53K is an all new aircraft, using modern intelligent design. The rugged CH-53K helicopter is designed to ensure reliability, low maintenance, high availability and enhanced survivability in the most austere and remote forward operating bases. 

CH-53K King Stallion Passes Initial Operational Testing

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced the CH-53K King Stallion successfully completed initial operational testing by the U.S. Marine Corps to verify the key capabilities of the heavy lift helicopter. The week-long operational assessment by Marine Corps pilots, aircrew and maintainers marked an important step in support of a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Milestone C decision early next year.

"This successful operational assessment by the Marine Corps is a clear sign of the maturity and the robust capability of the King Stallion," said Dr. Michael Torok, Sikorsky Vice President CH-53K Programs. "This was a key requirement in support of the upcoming Milestone C decision, and its success is another important step in our transition from development into production."

The U.S. Marine Corps' initial operational testing included external lift scenarios of 27,000 lbs. (12,200 kgs) in hover and a 12,000 lb. (5,422 kg) 110 nautical mile radius mission. Ground events included embarkation / debarkation of combat equipped troops, internal and external cargo rigging, tactical bulk fuel delivery system (TBFDS) operation and medevac litter configuration.  

Overall, post evaluation interviews of aircrew, ground crew and flight surgeons revealed a high regard for the operational capability demonstrated by the King Stallion. This customer assessment is a pre-requisite to Milestone C and is intended to minimize risk to successfully pass the U.S. Marine Corps operational evaluation (OPEVAL) phase for a future full rate production decision.

"OT-B1( Operational Test)  is a critical milestone for the program because this is the first time an operational test has been done utilizing an 'All Marine' crew,"  said Col. Hank Vanderborght, U.S. Marine Corps program manager for Naval Air Systems Command's Heavy Lift Helicopters Program. "All test objectives were met, and the aircraft performed very well.  This further increases our confidence in the design, and is another key step to successfully fielding the CH-53K." 

The operational testing was based out of the Sikorsky Development Flight Center (DFC) in West Palm Beach, Florida, where CH-53K development flight test is continuing to make excellent progress now with all four Engineering Development Model (EDM) aircraft in flight status.

The King Stallion will carry three times the external payload of the predecessor CH-53E equating to a 27,000 pound external load over 110 nautical miles under "high hot" ambient conditions. The CH-53K helicopter provides unmatched heavy lift capability with reduced logistics footprint and reduced support costs over its entire life cycle. CH-53K pilots can execute heavy lift missions more effectively and safely in day/night and all weather with the King Stallion's modern glass cockpit. Fly-by-wire flight controls facilitate reduced pilot workload for all heavy lift missions including external loads, maritime operations, and operation in degraded visual environments. With more than triple the payload capability of the predecessor CH-53E, the King Stallion's increased capability can take the form of a variety of relevant payloads ranging from an internally loaded High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to up to three independent external loads at once which provides outstanding mission flexibility and system efficiency. A locking, U.S. Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail system reduces both effort and time to load and unload palletized cargo.

The U.S. Department of Defense's Program of Record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft. The first four of the 200 "Program of Record" aircraft are scheduled for delivery next year to the U.S. Marine Corps, with another two aircraft to follow. Two additional aircraft are under long lead procurement for parts and materials, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2020. The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.

This press release contains forward looking statements concerning opportunities for development, production and sale of helicopters. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices, budget plans, availability of funding and in the type and number of aircraft required; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in Lockheed Martin Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.