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Dec 27, 06:56 PM
The U.S. Navy last week declared the Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter ready for full-rate production,
allowing the Marines to double their annual buys of the aircraft in the next three years.
Jay Stefany, the acting assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition,
signed a memo Dec. 21 confirming the move to a higher production rate
was appropriate based on how the helicopter did in testing and the program’s cost and production line performance.
Sikorsky, the helicopter’s manufacturer,
said it is already procuring long-lead items and critical materials
to support this increased production rate at its Connecticut facility.
The supply base includes more than 200 companies across 35 states.
The Navy has awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company,
six low-rate initial production contracts for 42 aircraft.
The service has already awarded long-lead contracts for Lots 7 and 8, the first two lots under full-rate production.
According to Navy budget documents, the Marine Corps intends to buy 10 aircraft in fiscal 2023, 15 in FY24, and 21 a year beginning in FY25.
The Marine Corps in April declared initial operational capability for the helicopter,
meaning the service has sufficient training, logistics and spares to support the first deployment of this aircraft.
That first deployment is planned for FY24.
The aircraft is expected to reach full operational capability by FY29.
The Marine Corps intends to buy 200 aircraft, keeping the production line hot through at least 2032.
https://www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl/2022/1 ... stallions/
De fabrikant deelde onlangs ook mee
dat begonnen kon worden met de bouw van achttien CH-53K Yas’ur (‘Stormvogel’)
transporthelikopters voor Israël die vanaf 2025 geleverd zullen worden .