Eaton to supply CH-53K helicopter cockpit control panels, dimming controllers

IRVINE, Calif., 19 Jan. 2008.Eaton Corp. has been selected by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., to design, develop, and supply the lighted control panels and dimming controllers for Sikorsky's new military heavy-lift helicopter, the CH-53K helicopter, which is currently under development for the U.S. Marine Corps. Eaton also holds a contract for the helicopter's hydraulic power generation system, integrated fuel system, and fluid conveyance package.

During the development phase of the program, which runs through 2014, Eaton will provide the lighted control-panel support hardware for five helicopter shipsets in addition to a number of system development test sets.

Based on expected production of more than 156 helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps, the contract value is approximately $20 million and, when combined with anticipated foreign military sales, is expected to exceed $26 million over the approximate 12-year life of the program.