Rotorcraft Report

11 JUNE 2014 | ROTOR & WING MAGAZINE WWW. R OT O R A N D WI N G . C O M

MILITARY | AIRFRAMES
Sikorsky Reveals King Stallion for CH-53K During Rollout
Stratford, Conn.-based Sikorsky Aircraft has taken the
wraps off its heavy lift helicopter that will serve the U.S.
Marine Corps for the next five decades the CH-53K.
In front of a group that consisted of military leadership,
members of Congress, suppliers and company employees,
USMC Commandant Gen. James T. Amos revealed
that King Stallion had emerged as the chosen name for
the variant a safe pick that taps into the legacy of the
CH-53 Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion. Also in
attendance were Sikorsky President Mick Maurer; United
Technologies (Sikorsky parent company) President and CEO
Louis Chenevert; Sikorskys international ambassador Sergei
Sikorsky (who is the son of company founder Igor Sikorsky);
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Cindy CJ Jaynes; and Col. Robert
Pridgen, NAVAIR program manager for aircraft and weapons.
The technological advancements of the K are many fly by
wire controls, 7,500-shp GE T408 engines, composite airframe
and structures, updated avionics from Rockwell Collins, a new
transmission and fourth-generation rotor blades (including
seven on the main rotor). Also numerous are the suppliers for
the program, including Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE, Exelis,
Eaton, GE, GKN, Rockwell Collins, Spirit AeroSystems and
United Technologies Aerospace Systems.
Heavy is the operational word here the CH-53Ks
gearbox assembly alone (around 12,500 to 13,000 lbs)
weighs more than an entire Black Hawk (at roughly
10,600 lbs empty weight). The maximum gross weight of
the CH-53K clocks in at 88,000 lbs (compared to 73,500
lbs for the CH-53E), offering more than triple the external
load capacity, with the ability to deliver up to 27,000 lbs on
a sling load to a distance of 110 nm from a host ship, hover
for 30 minutes and return to the ship. Everything about the
CH-53K screams big. In fact, the only other helicopter in
the world that is larger is the Russian Helicopters-built Mil
Mi-26.
The rollout marks the beginning of the ground test
phase, followed by first flight in late 2014. The maiden
flight will signal the start of three years of flight tests,
culminating with the beginning of USMC operational service sometime in
2019. The CH-53K is part of a System Development and Demonstration
(SDD) contract awarded in April 2006. The contract is currently worth
around $4 billion. By Andrew Parker, Editor-in-Chief
Read the Full Story, view more photos and watch a video of the CH-53K
rollout at www.rotorandwing.com
(Top) Sikorsky test pilot John Rucci with the CH-53K ground test vehicle, or GTV. (Bottom
three) Various angles of the CH-53K following the rollout ceremony with officials from the U.S.
Marine Corps, Sikorsky and program suppliers. Photos by Andrew Parker