The Marines Corps' CH-53E Super Stallion Fleet Is In Inexcusably Horrible Disrepair

The Marine Corps faces serious challenges with its aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet. The huge and complex aircraft are decades old and tired from 15 years of war. A replacement is on the way, the CH-53K King Stallion, although it is behind schedule and still years away from becoming operational.
foxtrotalpha

Germany to choose between Chinook and CH-53K for heavy-lift successor

Germany is moving ahead with an acquisition programme to replace its air force's Sikorsky CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters, with the choice narrowed to two types.
One key driver for Berlin's effort under the fledgling heavy transport helicopter project is the need to purchase a rotorcraft already in production, rather than launching a clean-sheet development programme.
Luftwaffe capability manager in charge of the programme, says only two heavy-lift helicopters effectively meet that requirement: the Boeing CH-47F Chinook and Sikorsky's CH-53K King Stallion – being developed for the US Marine Corps.
As the helicopter will be used to support special forces operations and combat search and rescue tasks, an aerial refuelling capability is required, he says. However, Germany presently has no tankers suitable for the role. Although it is a customer of the Airbus Defence & Space A400M, the tactical airlifter is unable to perform in-flight refuelling of rotorcraft.
flightglobal

Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion Heavy-Lift Helicopter Finishes First Flight

The CH-53K King Stallion, the Marine Corps' next-generation heavy-lift helicopter, took its first flight Tuesday at Sikorsky's test facility.
The entire flight test lasted about 55 minutes including taxiing on the runway, but the helicopter was in the air for about 30 minutes.
defensenews

CH-53K to Make First Flight Within a Year

The next-generation heavy-lift helicopter for the Marine Corps will make its first flight within the next year.
Sikorsky was planning for the first flight in late 2014, but the testing of the Ground Test Vehicle (GTV), a full-scale CH-53K secured to the ground, has been slower than expected.
The Sikorsky-built CH-53K is slated to be the long-needed recapitalization of the service’s rotary-wing heavy-lift capability, scheduled to reach initial operational capability in 2019.
The CH-53K, named the King Stallion during its roll-out ceremonies, is to be the replacement for the CH-53E Super Stallion. The CH-53K looks similar to the CH-53E, but is an almost total redesign of the older type. It is equipped with new-design engines, rotor system, transmission system and other features, and will have three times the payload capacity of the older helicopter. The Marine Corps plans to procure 200 CH-53Ks to replace its 151 CH-53Es.
seapowermagazine

Presented new helicopter for US Marines, the CH-53K King Stallion

Sikorsky and the US Marine Corps on 5 May formally unveiled and christened the CH-53K as the King Stallion, a replacement name for the CH-53E Super Stallion.
The CH-53K is endowed with many advanced features that push push the King Stallion decades beyond the technology of the CH-53E.
The CH-53K survived the impact of a partial sequestration-imposed budget cut in Fiscal 2015.
The aircraft's increased external load-carrying capacity means it can carry two up-armoured Humvees up to 110nm inland. Unlike the single-load of the CH-53E, the CH-53K also can drop off three loads at different points on the same flight.
flightglobal

Sikorsky awarded $435 million contract for four CH-53K test aircraft

The US Navy is awarding Sikorsky a $435 million contract modification to build four more CH-53K prototype helicopters for operational evaluation purposes.
Instead of awarding a separate contract for the four system demonstration test articles, the Naval Air Systems Command has decided to add the machines to an existing $3.5 billion system development and demonstration contract that was awarded in April 2006.
flightglobal

Sikorsky CH-53K may be operational ahead of schedule

Development of the Sikorsky CH-53K is proceeding so well that the US Navy programme manager says he expects the new heavy-lift helicopter to become operational ahead of schedule.

flightglobal

Sikorsky delivers first CH-53K ground test vehicle to flight test team

Sikorsky has delivered the first CH-53K ground test vehicle (GTV) to the company's flight test team. The airframer is developing the massive aircraft for the US Marine Corps' heavy lift helicopter requirements as part of a $3.5 billion contract.

flightglobal