The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is a large, heavy-lift cargo helicopter being developed by Sikorsky Aircraft, owned by Lockheed Martin, for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The design features three 7,500 shp (5,590 kW) engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin than previous CH-53 variants. It will be the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military. The USMC plans to receive 200 helicopters at a total cost of $25 billion.
The H-53 family of heavy lift helicopters combines power and versatility. They are at home in searing desert heat, arctic cold and everything in between. Flying a range of missions, including carrying cargo, vehicles, artillery and troops, the H-53 is designed to operate on land or at sea. These aircraft provide a key capability that facilitates the United States Marine Corps’ Sea Basing strategy. With the 5 May 2014 roll out of the all new CH-53K, the United States Marine Corps’ launches the next generation of heavy lift that will extend the H-53 legacy well into the future.
The CH-53K model heavy-lift helicopter leverages the lessons learned over 50 years of manufacturing and operational success with its CH-53A/D/E predecessors. Built to thrive in the modern battlefield, the extremely capable CH-53K aircraft will be intelligent, reliable, low maintenance and survivable across the full spectrum of operating conditions for which it was designed. Expeditionary in nature, the CH-53K aircraft will be fully shipboard compatible and capable of operating from austere and remote forward operating bases. The CH-53K helicopter is the Marine Corps' critical land and sea based logistics connector.
Airframe o New build hybrid composite airframe structure - provides lighter weight and lower vibration throughout aircraft life o Improved hydraulics o Large composite sponsons o Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS) o Advanced drive system o Improved fuel system with refueling probe o Enhanced ballistic protection o Crashworthy retracting landing gear o Single, dual and triple cargo hook with 3 times the lift capability of the CH-53E to 110 nm (in hot/high conditions) o Advanced light weight armor to protect passengers and crew o Crashworthy troop seats o Integrated Mobile Aircrew Restraint System (IMARS) o Integral cargo handling system with rated capacity for two 463L pallets o Self-defense weapons Avionics and Flight Controls o Rockwell Collins Avionics Management System o Fly-by-wire flight controls o Pilot/co-pilot/crew chief/4th crew o FLIR with helmet-mounted navigational displays o Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) | Powerplant and fuel system o Three T408-GE-400 engines with less fuel consumption, more power and fewer parts than its predecessor, the T64 o Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) with pneumatic start o Integral EAPPS - Engine Air Particle Protection System Rotor and drive system o 4th Generation Composite main rotor blades with advanced airfoils o New tail rotor head and blades o Elastomeric main rotor head o Automatic blade fold o Advanced drive system with a split torque design main gearbox Electrical o Improved electrical systems |
