Germany to choose between CH-53K and CH-47F [Archive]

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chopper2004

20th Jan 2016, 17:46

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/germany-to-choose-between-chinook-and-ch-53k-for-hea-420964/

Mil-26Man

21st Jan 2016, 10:44

From Jane's back in December, sets out some of the issues in greater detail....

EUROPE, Germany

Date Posted: 02-Dec-2015

Jane's Defence Weekly

Germany seeks CH-53 replacement, as
retirement brought forward

Gareth Jennings

Donauworth

The German Air Force (GAF) has begun the process of selecting a new medium/heavy-lift helicopter as it looks to phase its ageing VFW-Sikorsky CH-53G/GS/GA Stallions out of service earlier than originally planned.

Speaking at the site of Airbus Helicopters' Donauworth facility on 30 November, Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Germany and Head of Light and Governmental Programs,said that the German military is in the very early stages of a replacement process for the 1970s legacy CH-53, but that he expects the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to issue a solicitation next year for a new platform to enter service in the early 2020s.

"We see no investment in further upgrades [to the CH-53]. It is [Airbus Helicopters'] responsibility
to keep it flying through to about 2020, but we are close to the customer and we hear about specifications for a replacement," Schoder said, adding, "We are in constructive discussions with the German MoD [Ministry of Defence] as to our role in such a [replacement] programme."

Airbus Helicopters is currently in the process of putting the last four of 40 CH-53G/GS platforms through the CH-53GA modernisation effort (the remaining 26 CH-53G/GS helicopters in the GAF fleet will remain at that standard for a total fleet of 66 CH-53G/GS/GS platforms).

The CH-53GA is an enhanced variant of the CH-53G/GS, with improvements made primarily to the avionics, communications, and electronic warfare systems, and the integration of a forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor turret. An internal fuel tank has also been fitted, extending the helicopter's range to 1,200 km, and the airframe has been refurbished.

With the upgrade, it was expected that the CH-53GA-variant would remain operational with the GAF through to at least 2030 and possibly beyond. However, with the upgrade programme set to conclude in 2016 the GAF has now decided to replace the fleet with a new type entirely from 2020 to 2025.

According to Schoder, the German MoD is looking at two helicopter types only, with either the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion or Boeing CH-47F Chinook to be selected. "There are only two platforms that can fulfil the requirements," he said. "While the German MoD is now in the very early stages [of a replacement programme] what we can say is that this will not be a new development project. Germany wants a fast, low-risk procurement, which really means 'off-the-shelf'".

In terms of the role of Airbus Helicopters in any future acquisition programme, Schoder said that it is too early to talk about possible license production in Germany, and that this might not be the best solution for the GAF.

"I am not sure that this [license production] model would make sense - what's the value in it for the German customer? The value that [Airbus Helicopters] can bring can be in certifying and qualifying [the platform] to German standards. Also, including German suppliers in the programme would addvalue in that it would provide [the GAF] with an independent supply chain," he added.

While Airbus Helicopters' role in any future procurement programme would be defined by the German MoD, Schoder noted that the company "is in permanent discussions" with both Sikorsky and Boeing, saying, "Both are aware that Airbus Helicopters will be interested to support the German customer for such a procurement. I don't know of many military programmes where there is no national customisation."

The CH-53K is currently being developed for the US Marine Corps (USMC), and Sikorsky is targeting Germany and Israel as current operators of the legacy CH-53 as its best near-term options for potential future sales. With the USMC set to acquire about 200 such helicopters, Germany would benefit from economies of scale in terms of procurement, sustainment, and support should it opt for this platform.

Having made its debut flight on 27 October, the CH-53K will be able to carry three times as much
weight as the legacy Sikorsky CH-53E, and has been designed to perform better in 'hot and high' conditions. It is set to enter service with the USMC in 2019 which would suit Germany's proposed timelines (assuming that slots could be found in the production line), but this is dependent on a near-flawless flight test campaign between now and then.

Already in service or on order with operators around the world, the latest-variant CH-47F Chinook is a proven platform with recent combat use in Afghanistan and beyond. With the US Army alone set to acquire about 200 new-build and remanufactured helicopters, and with an upgrade path in place through to a projected US out-of-service date of 2060, the CH-47F would also offer the GAF impressive economies of scale and support solutions.

For both the CH-53K and CH-47F, the GAF should be able to tap into the Pentagon's multi-year procurement process for a reduced acquisition cost, though the precise extent of any such savings would not be known until the conclusion of negotiations, which would follow a platform announcement.

ANALYSIS

The GAF currently operates all of Germany's CH-53 helicopters, with the type having transferred over from the army to pave the way for the NHIndustries NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter. In recent years, Germany's CH-53 fleet has seen deployments to Afghanistan, Bosnia Hercegovina, the Congo, Kosovo, and Pakistan.

The latest plan to bring forward the CH-53 retirement date from 2030 to about 2020 is not the first time in recent years that Germany has looked at fielding a new helicopter type to satisfy its medium/heavy-lift requirements.

As recently as 2010 Boeing revealed a proposal derived from its CH-47 Chinook design that was dubbed the European Future Transport Helicopter or Transport Helicopter Concept. This new helicopter would represent a scaled-up version of the current CH-47 design, taking the maximum gross weight from around 24,000 kg to around 36,000 kg. It also featured a fuselage that was stretched by 5 m, and four-bladed tandem rotors.

While the project never progressed to the stage where industrial collaboration agreements were settled, Eurocopter touted the same design which it billed as the Heavy Transport Helicopter. An initial operating capability was planned for 2018, with a stated requirement for up to 120 helicopters.

It appears that financial restraints killed-off that particular effort and while the tight timelines this time around all but preclude a clean-sheet developmental design, the German MoD appears intent this on seeing the requirement through to the fielding of a new operational helicopter type.

NutLoose

21st Jan 2016, 11:34

You would have thought a Stallion replacement for the current Stallion fleet with the supporting infrastructure more or less already in place, and bearing in mind their experience with the type would be the way to go.

Evalu8ter

21st Jan 2016, 12:13

Nut loose,
I'd be very, very dubious that much, if any, legacy CH-53 kit/experience will be compatible with -53K. The KS was optimised by the USMC, who's remaining -53s are quite different from the GAF cabs. Yes, it folds into the same space but pretty much everything else is different.

From a Project point of view the CH-47F is a far safer option. The UK, Dutch, Italians & Spanish all fly it, as does the US Army in Germany. There are opportunities for huge Through Life Cost savings by sharing facilities (e.g., the Dutch have used the RAF sims at Benson for years), building the airframes in Europe (through the Finmeccanica licence) and benefiting from joint efforts on TTP development and future upgrades. By comparison, the -53K is high risk, likely to be more expensive and there are no European partners.

The three key factors will likely be the requirements (which seems to confirm that both are suitable), the cost model and which way the French go.

Ian Corrigible

21st Jan 2016, 12:16

Sunk costs will be a consideration, but so too will the fact that the Kilo's average procurement unit cost is over 4X that of the F-model Hook ($117M projected vs. $27M as of December 2013, per the latest available Selected Acquisition Reports).

The existing CH-53G infrastructure may be of limited relevance to the Kilo, given that it's a completely new aircraft under the skin (which, being composite rather than aluminum, is also new...).

chopper2004

28th Mar 2018, 17:42

It has arrived today, in Germany ahead of next month's ILA,

cheers

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/40183683605_47c5c76c9e_b.jpg

ORAC

28th Mar 2018, 17:50

ORAC

28th Mar 2018, 19:34

The name doesn’t make them the same - the first Ark Royal to the last for example.

minigundiplomat

28th Mar 2018, 21:43

Given the Dutch, Italians, Greeks, Spanish and UK all operate the CH47, and no other European nation operates the CH53 you'd have thought it was an easy decision.

However, given the unit price of the 53K, it solves Germany's defence spend shortfall overnight and may even get them to the magic 2%......

George K Lee

29th Mar 2018, 10:17

From all the numbers it seems that the only advantage of the 53K is sheer payload and the ability to fold itself into a pretzel on demand. Everything else favors the 47.

melmothtw

29th Mar 2018, 13:10

From all the numbers it seems that the only advantage of the 53K is sheer payload and the ability to fold itself into a pretzel on demand. Everything else favors the 47.

Indeed, and that's underslung payload only. The internal payloads of both platforms are both pretty much the same, so unless you have a dedicated point-to-point outsized heavy-lift mission (such as the USMC does), it is hard to see the point of the CH-53K.

Heathrow Harry

29th Mar 2018, 14:04

Why did they buy the CH-53 in the first place?

chopper2004

29th Mar 2018, 18:14

Why did they buy the CH-53 in the first place?

Please forgive me but that is a silly question. Anyhow you might as well ask why do we operate the Chinook ? Because we like they needed a heavy lift capability

Anyhow The Bundeswehr - Heeresflieger at the time had a heavy lift requirment and can carry a fair amount of troops across the battlefield in the 60s. Bearing in mind the height of the cold war / NATO commitment etc. Plus their legacy workhorse(s) from 50s (when allowed to arm up) consisted of SIkorsky CH-34G and Piasecki H-21 Shawnee a.k.a Flying Banana.

They evaluated the following

Aerospatiale Super Frelon,
Boeing CH-47A and even the Vertol 107
Sikorsky CH-54A Skycrane (there was one in country)
They sent team over to Stratford to evaluate the CH-53A

all according to my book

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/884/40204688845_4111517403_q.jpg

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https://farm1.staticflickr.com/876/40503650744_3e26fef1a7_k.jpg

P.S Austrian air force bought 2 CH-53A used briefly in the 70s then they ended up in Israel as I believe they were too expensive and large to operate.

cheers

glad rag

29th Mar 2018, 18:22

Can they still get those wee tanks in the K ?

There's your answer..��

chopper2004

29th Mar 2018, 18:28

In the meantime, it would seem Israel is opting for the CH-47.

IDF to recommend Boeing helicopter over Sikorsky - Israel News - Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/IDF-to-recommend-Boeing-helicopter-over-Sikorsky-544202)

Looks like the V-22 maybe back in their thoughts once again?

After show of force, Israel renews interest in advanced hybrid aircraft - Israel News - Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/After-show-of-force-Israel-renews-interest-in-advanced-hybrid-aircraft-547425)

Heathrow Harry

30th Mar 2018, 08:17

Thanks Chopper - it wasn't a "silly question" -I couldn't remember ever hearing or reading anything about how they came to that choice. As the Chinook became a more common choice for airforces I presumed there was some special reason (especially as the costs appear so different)

But well done for getting in a plug in for your book!

:ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

I shall keep an eye out for it at the h second hand book fairs

sandiego89

30th Mar 2018, 13:01

.......so unless you have a dedicated point-to-point outsized heavy-lift mission (such as the USMC does), it is hard to see the point of the CH-53K.

Or if you want to operate from ship....that is a also a key difference. The 47 is unwieldy for normal shipboard operations. Agree for most land based forces the 47 is well suited and cheaper.

chopper2004

12th Apr 2018, 13:57

https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2018-04-12-Strengthening-Partnerships-Sikorskys-CH-53K-Heavy-Lift-Helicopter-Makes-Historic-First-Flight-in-Germany?_ga=2.210975826.613558733.1523541368-44503509.1514242557

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/808/41367091222_c12bebd677_k.jpg

(photo courtesy of Sikorsky)

cheers

KenV

12th Apr 2018, 14:38

From all the numbers it seems that the only advantage of the 53K is sheer payload and the ability to fold itself into a pretzel on demand. Everything else favors the 47.Indeed. And yet.....

While the CH-53 can fold itself to fit into a ship's hangar while a CH-47 cannot, the level of disassembly required for air transport (in either C-17 or C-5) is roughly the same for both the -53 and -47, but slightly favoring the -47. So if shipboard use is not a factor, that self-fold feature is also not a factor. And incidentally, that self fold feature comes at a cost (in terms of dollars, weight, complexity, maintainability, etc) and is not free. So if the feature is not needed, why pay its cost?

Evalu8ter

12th Apr 2018, 17:07

Ken V,
Indeed - The gearbox/head of the -53K weighs the same as a UH60. That's what power folding complexity costs you. The K is designed to float about in a maritime environment. The RAF has successfully operated the -47 off carriers for years. Yes there is a maintenance penalty - but it's a small price to pay. The Chinook is only "unwieldy" in terms of storage. The power and tandem rotor layout make ship ops very straightforward (I've landed one downwind with the boat doing 25+kts with no issue whatsoever - aside from landing in my own spray...) and in spread deck space terms, the -53K is actually bigger than a Chinook! The -47 has a 60ft disk, the -53 79ft (!), whereas, give an inch or two, their both the small over-all length (about 100ft). Germany says that both aircraft meet the Threshold Spec, indicating that a massive outsize single point load is not a key discriminator, nor is prolonged maritime operations. In which case, why on earth would they pick the high risk option (-53K) which, at best guess, will be 2.5 times the unit cost of a -47F and substantially more expensive to run? Will have to be a hell of a discount/offset.....

KenV

12th Apr 2018, 18:11

Ken V, Indeed - The gearbox/head of the -53K weighs the same as a UH60. That's what power folding complexity costs you. The K is designed to float about in a maritime environment. The RAF has successfully operated the -47 off carriers for years. Yes there is a maintenance penalty - but it's a small price to pay. The Chinook is only "unwieldy" in terms of storage. The power and tandem rotor layout make ship ops very straightforward (I've landed one downwind with the boat doing 25+kts with no issue whatsoever - aside from landing in my own spray...) Indeed. USN operated the -47's little brother, the CH-46 "Phrog" for decades and loved it. Good performance and very forgiving. And cross wind performance was unmatchable. So unless that folding capability is REALLY needed, or the high slung load capability REALLY required, the -53K would be an unnecessarily very expensive choice.

chopper2004

30th Apr 2018, 04:18

Here she is, my photos first prodcution a/c making its first international debut ...mid week at ILA,

cheers

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chopper2004

9th Nov 2018, 22:09

Last night the Federal Government announced funding has been released for replacement of the legacy 53 fleet so may the best man win.

Cheers

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-helicopter/german-parliament-backs-heavy-lift-package/

ORAC

11th Dec 2020, 12:38

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/12/09/german-defense-ministry-targets-new-us-channel-for-buying-heavy-cargo-helicopters/

German defense ministry targets new US channel for buying heavy cargo helicopters

COLOGNE, Germany — The German defense ministry is eyeing something of a redo of its failed acquisition strategy for new heavy cargo helicopters, banking on the U.S. foreign military sales (https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2020/12/04/american-sold-175-billion-in-weapons-abroad-in-fy20/) process to yield contracts for either the Lockheed Martin King Stallion or Boeing Chinook by the end of 2022.

The strategy appears in the ministry’s latest report on major weapon systems, released this week. The previous acquisition track, abandoned in September (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/09/29/germany-walks-away-from-lockheed-boeing-cargo-helicopter-offers/), saw the Berlin government deal directly with the two vendors, dictating a host of special requirements for the aircraft that ended up making their offers too expensive.

By picking the FMS route, the German defense ministry is expected to work more closely with the U.S. government in the eventual purchase of a replacement for the Bundeswehr’s CH-53G helicopters by 2030. The process allows foreign governments buying U.S. kit some leeway in customizing their equipment, but the push for standard-issue equipment is generally more pronounced than in direct commercial sales.

That kind of discipline may be a welcome constraint for the German military-acquisition office, which had added a litany of special requirements for communications equipment and sensors, like a new weather radar, into the previous program. In the end, industry officials said, the eventual wish list (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/01/14/lockheed-boeing-enter-germanys-heavy-transport-helicopter-race/) released by the defense ministry was a far cry from the original desire for a no-frills workhorse helicopter on the battlefield.

At the same time, industry sources caution that there would have to be some adjustments made to U.S. aircraft in order to get them certified to fly here. Countries also typically want their own communications gear that fits with national security standards.

The prospect of an election here next year, which usually means large-scale acquisition decisions must wait, has the defense ministry scrambling to make decisions, perhaps as soon as this month.

“We are currently re-evaluating the project,” a spokeswoman told Defense News. “A decision about how, and whether, we will continue has yet to be made.”

The newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported over the weekend that defense officials had lodged a formal FMS request with the Pentagon on Nov. 20, asking for responses by Dec. 4. Such a turnaround time would be extraordinary when accounting for the Thanksgiving holiday and Washington’s lame-duck spirit after a grueling presidential race.

The apparent rush has already caught the attention of industry. “We appreciate that the acquisition process will continue but we are wondering about the fast pace,” Dennis Goege, Lockheed’s vice president for central and eastern Europe, told the Handelsblatt newspaper. “We aim for a competition that ensures a fair comparison of both aircraft,” he added.

chopper2004

25th Mar 2022, 20:13

Re: Boeing Future Transport Rotorcraft for European requirement?

Note the German markings.
Yes, it seems that the HTH/FTH program (CH-53G successor for the Heeresflieger / German Army Air Corps) is going more forward to a tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter.

Even EADS/Eurocopter is promoting a tandem rotor helicopter.

See thread "Eurocopter HTH (http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,538.15.html)".

Airbus and Boeing join forces for marketing H-47 for German Bundeswehr Heavylift Helicopter replacement for the Luftwaffe Sikorsky CH-53 fleet.

https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-03-boeing-and-airbus-helicopters-sign-strategic-h-47-chinook

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1493/74e9d2ce_e98f_4910_ae78_469be6dba66e_e0e869208eb66c0a1d2a7d0 43d6670d02e9fa822.jpeg

Cheers

Less Hair

25th Mar 2022, 20:26

Feels a bit like the "Luftwaffe Kater" Tomcat F-14.
HOME OF M.A.T.S. - The most comprehensive Grumman F-14 Reference Work - by Torsten Anft! (http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-history-f14a-export.htm)

Hueymeister

26th Mar 2022, 00:38

The German anti noise brigade will go nuts over the Chinook Lärm!

Less Hair

26th Mar 2022, 05:08

Only until they have heard the F-35.

The Helpful Stacker

26th Mar 2022, 21:56

The German anti noise brigade will go nuts over the Chinook Lärm!

The '53 isn't exactly a discrete aircraft! We'd often be woken from our slumber by the MH-53s when they popped into Stafford at silly o'clock.

Asturias56

27th Mar 2022, 08:17

Chinooks - Iworked in Odiham for a while (notatthe base) and the sound of Chinooks doing circuits was non-stop - but it wasn't too bad. it's low frequency noise TBH

minigundiplomat

27th Mar 2022, 09:32

Chinooks - Iworked in Odiham for a while (notatthe base) and the sound of Chinooks doing circuits was non-stop - but it wasn't too bad. it's low frequency noise TBH

those toilets were spotless whilst you were at the council.

Asturias56

27th Mar 2022, 09:38

:))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Close but no cigar - I worked behind the bar in the Bell........................ serving folk from the base..............

Hilife

27th Mar 2022, 19:51

The Bell at Odiham. Now there's an establishment I'd long forgotten about. Forty years ago and more I used to walk down from the base for the reward of real ale in a locals pub, tucked away from High Street. Happy days.

Asturias56

28th Mar 2022, 07:03

Still there - I attended a funeral of a very old (in all senses) friend in the church opposite last year Still very much a locals pub

melmothtw

28th Mar 2022, 12:28

chopper2004

28th Mar 2022, 14:35

Boeing releasing a concept image of the Chinook in German markings in no way suggests that this is the direction the Luftwaffe (note, not the Heeresflieger) is looking to go for its CH-53G replacement. Boeing has been putting out such imagery for a while, as had Lockheed Martin with its CH-53K.

Though I attended the International Military Helicopter Conference in Syon Park and noticed on the Boeing booth / desk

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/e51304f3_a619_43df_90f5_85d381a4f641_de8c4b225b59cf3f968b45e 4a19d2d3f8ff40d28.jpeg

cheers

melmothtw

28th Mar 2022, 15:08

Yes, again that was Boeing promoting its Chinook offering for Germany. Quite normal for an OEM to do that, and not indicative of any decision to buy on the customer's part.

sandiego89

28th Mar 2022, 18:53

The '53 isn't exactly a discrete aircraft! We'd often be woken from our slumber by the MH-53s when they popped into Stafford at silly o'clock.

As someone that lives near frequent corridors for H-53 and H-60 transits I can attest you know when a 53 is approaching! You feel it as much as hear it when my house widows start rattling.

chopper2004

28th Mar 2022, 23:41

Yes, again that was Boeing promoting its Chinook offering for Germany. Quite normal for an OEM to do that, and not indicative of any decision to buy on the customer's part.

I was thinking more on ‘where’s Wally’ and spot the difference games ….the model has not got AAR probe on it…I did hear a rumor that the requirements from Berlin may havE been Nein to AAr…

Cheers

NutLoose

29th Mar 2022, 23:55

Chinooks - Iworked in Odiham for a while (notatthe base) and the sound of Chinooks doing circuits was non-stop - but it wasn't too bad. it's low frequency noise TBH

i remember when we first got them and I think it was DW on the Ops desk that took a call from an irate farmer who had asked to be put through to those people with the new helicopters, he complained they were scaring his livestock and was told, well, they better we’ll get used to it as they will be here for the next 40 years….. :)

The CH-53 makes sense in they operate the type etc all be it an earlier version, but have operational experience, but on this side of the pond one would think the CH 47 would make more sense in NATO inter operability with the U.K., The Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Spain all operating the type, with possibly other countries equipping with them.

…

chopper2004

24th Apr 2022, 08:42

‚„Supposedly“ Berlin is buying the Boeing CH—47F for the Bundeswehr — Luftwaffe for their STH requirement. 🤔🤔

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-buy-60-heavy-transport-helicopters-boeing-bild-am-sonntag-2022-04-23/?fbclid=IwAR1hYBN97Dp8qMTeWWgSFcslVAxRd1eXsKfk9E8SqadICpYGlV Cbbs21ako

Any thoughts please?

cheers

Less Hair

24th Apr 2022, 09:02

Leaked by "Bild am Sonntag" tabloid Newspaper. I still consider this information to be reliable. Claimed to be an upcoming order for 60 Chinooks. ILA Berlin air show might be more interesting than anticipated this year. Smart move by Boeing to cooperate with Airbus helicopters for the support.

NutLoose

24th Apr 2022, 12:29

They have just binned the advanced rotors for them, see the link I posted in Rotorheads.

RAFEngO74to09

24th Apr 2022, 14:54

Reuters reporting CH-47F selected:

Germany to buy 60 heavy transport helicopters from Boeing, Bild am Sonntag reports | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-buy-60-heavy-transport-helicopters-boeing-bild-am-sonntag-2022-04-23/)

melmothtw

25th Apr 2022, 07:30

They have just binned the advanced rotors for them, see the link I posted in Rotorheads.

Was reported some time ago that the Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades have been dropped form the Block 2 upgrade, due to vibration issues. Not entirely clear yet if the Block 2 upgrade itself will go ahead.

Less Hair

25th Apr 2022, 19:00

The german MoD today declared that no decision has been made yet. Might be because the parliament has to be asked first during this week.

RAFEngO74to09

1st Jun 2022, 16:36

Now confirmed by the german Minister of Defence.

(2) Christian Thiels on Twitter: "Germany to procure @Boeing's CH 47F #Chinook as new heavy-lift-helo for the #Bundeswehr, MinDef Lambrecht just announced in parliament. https://t.co/Tw3TNGsboU" / Twitter

(2) Boeing Europe on Twitter: "We are honored that the German government has selected the CH-47F #Chinook to support the Bundeswehr's heavy-lift requirements. Our Chinook Deutschland Team will deliver maximum operational availability. https://t.co/eMnLh6NqCe" / Twitter

ORAC

25th Aug 2023, 22:11

That’s $800M each - that’s the same price as a B-21 bomber, which will doubtless have people questioning the decision to order 100. The USMC has ordered 200 CH-53K…

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/08/24/us-navy-awards-sikorsky-27-billion-for-35-ch-53k-helicopters/

US Navy awards Sikorsky $2.7 billion for 35 CH-53K helicopters

rattman

26th Aug 2023, 00:03

Lonewolf_50

26th Aug 2023, 15:26

True, but that's still expensive.