When the 53K is far cheaper than the MV-22
Is that so?
SEAPOWER Expo Online
CH-53K Unaffected by Force Structure Review
By RICHARD R. BURGESS, Managing Editor
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Marine Corps still plans to procure 200 Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters, even in light of the Marine Corps Force Structure Review released in March.
Even with the proposed force structure reduction, the Corps still had a requirement for 200 CH-53Ks to replace the 152 CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters in service, Col. Robert Pridgen, the Navy’ s program manager for H-53 Heavy-Lift Helicopters, said April 11 at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition. The CH-53Es are heavily involved in warfighting and humanitarian operations in several areas of the world.
“The is no shortage for work out there,” Pridgen said, speaking of the worldwide demands on the Corps’ heavy-lift force. “We’re working at risk with fewer 53s than we need.”
Last month, two CH-53Ks were transferred from HMX-1, the squadron that provides helicopters for presidential use. The two are being upgraded and returned to the operating forces.
The CH-53K is an extensive redesign and features numerous improvements, including the new GE-38 engine, which delivers more than 7,500 shaft horsepower, compared with 4,380 for the T64 engine on the CH-53E. The new design also features a new airframe, transmission system and tail rotor, as well as composite rotor blades and a cargo cabin that is 12 inches wider than that of the CH-53E. The new helicopter also will feature a fly-by-wire control system, the first in such a large helicopter.
Pridgen said the CH-53E “has historically been very expensive to operate,” and that one of the program goals is to reduce operating costs for the CH-53K.
The Navy’s Critical Design Review for the CH-53K has been completed. First flight of the helicopter is scheduled for 2013. Initial operational capability is scheduled for 2018.
Pridgen said the expected unit cost of a CH-53K when built in full-rate production is $55 million to $65 million.
Sikorsky Aircraft is under way with assembly of the CH-53K ground test vehicle (GTV) and work has begun on the second test article.