CH 53 "Upgrade"
 

Mi 26 Halo the worlds biggest? Check out proposals for the US Marines "new" CH 53.
Defense Science Board Task Force on Mobility
Scroll down to page 55/56, "Future Capabilities"

CH-53X
 

The present C/MH-53E has a significant amount of growth built in in reserve. The present aircraft spec called for a 32,000 pound external load (self retrieval mission) over a 50 NM range that it handily demonstrated with reserves in the 1980s. It also far exceeded the 9500 lb 110 Nm mission in 1994 when a production MH-53E transported a more than 8000 lbs of payload 750NM none stop without refueling, at an average speed of 130 kts. I believe that hot and high performance improvements as well as significant improvements in R & M are goals of the new design. Most of the performance improvement will come with a grown in installed engine power and structural beef ups. These improvements will make the beast a real beast:O

Some non-authoritative word:

The 53X will have an S-92 type rotor head, with the same basic design (redundant wrap-around arms and flaw tolerance) as well as S-92 type blades (advanced airfoils and full composite design).

The engines will be significantly higher in power (6,000+ HP vice today's 4300 HP) to give the aircraft much more hot/high performance. The transmission will be somewhat upgraded from today's, but of the same basic design.

But will not have the contracts being reserved for the V-22 Osprey....unfortunately!

Nick,
will be that a 4 bladed head, or is there a 5 bladed one waiting in the wings?

My guess would be no less than 7! ;)

I would imagine blade fold on 7 could be a challenge.

The 53E already has blade fold, so I can't imagine any real difficulty incorporating it on another rotor head.

Doh ......... I really should pay more attention .

junglyAEO,

The CH-53X (I believe it will be called the 53F) was approved as a full SDD (System Design and Development) program this month, which pays for the design and development of the aircraft, including building and testing the prototypes. Full production is planned and budgeted, and when the prototypes pass the required tests, will be authorized.

It is a GO!

Re: CH 53 "Upgrade"
 

jungly,
I believe the geometry grows a bit, so that disk size, airfoils and power all contribute to the performance gain. That being said, fitting it onto existing ships is the requirement, so the growth must be contained. Modest diameter increases with proper fold, should make it managable.

Here:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...rcraft/hlr.htm

Re: CH 53 "Upgrade"
 

The CH-53X is now known as Heavy Lift Replacement (HLR).
At this point it is planned as the full monty and the program is up and running.

- First flight scheduled for 2011
- Initial Operating Capability scheduled for 2015
- Full Operating Capability scheduled for 2021
- Development funding approved for fiscal year 2006
- Programmed USMC buy: 156 aircraft

Background on the CH-53D and E:
http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/M..._Wing/ch53.htm

Interesting HLR related topics (have to love the skycrane variant!):
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...oval/index.php

It won't happen tomorrow but it's going to happen. :ok:

Re: CH 53 "Upgrade"
 

Nick got the jump on the media on the SDD decision, but it's confirmed in this week's Flight. Key take-away here is that the House's attempt to merge the program with the even larger (but much later) JHL program has been defeated, at least for now.

Although the CH-53X does get the 7-blade composite rotor, I was surprised to hear last year that the cathedral tips had been dropped. This was supposed to have been one of the technologies salvaged from Comanche.

And I really wouldn't hold your breath for an aircrane variant anytime soon... :E

I/C

Re: CH 53 "Upgrade"
 

Why so long (5+ years) till first flight? And then only four years to IOC, so all the support work will be compressed into a mad scramble.

It doesn't appear to include anything Sikorsky doesn't already know how to do, and is supposedly an "upgrade", so one would think first flight should be possible in three years or so.

With such a long time to first flight, it will be vulnerable to budget axes for some time.

Re: CH 53 "Upgrade"
 

plt,
The typical Navy program is paced to do things very slowly, and the Navy qualifications are lengthy and costly. The typical such program takes about twice as long as actually needed, On the positive side, when the test is finished, it has been a thorough test!

Re: CH 53 "Upgrade"
 

CH-53X gets a new moniker: CH-53K

Sikorsky, Marines outline new helicopter
Associated Press January 6th

Sikorsky will develop the U.S. Marine Corps' new heavy-lift helicopter over the next decade, bringing in nearly $19 billion for the company. Sikorsky is scheduled to deliver the first of 156 new CH-53K helicopters to the Marines beginning in 2015. It also will receive about $4.2 billion to revamp the Marines' CH-53E Super Stallion.

Col. Paul Coisetiere, Marine program manager, and Sikorsky program manager David Haines outlined the project at a news conference at the Pentagon Thursday.

The CH-53K will be a more durable, faster helicopter that can carry a significantly larger payload in adverse conditions, Haines said. The Marines are seeking a helicopter that can carry two armored Humvees or 27,000 lb of cargo 110 nm at an altitude of 3,000 ft in summer heat. That is more than five times the performance of the CH-53E. The helicopter also must fit inside military cargo aircraft and take up no more space on a ship than the current model.

The CH-53K will have improved rotors, engines, aviation electronics, transmission and gearbox. It also will be equipped with improved armor to protect crew and passengers. "If we had it today, it would be the perfect aircraft for combat operations in Afghanistan and relief operations in Pakistan," Coisetiere said.


I/C