CH-53K King Stallion reaches milestone

The CH-53K King Stallion heavy transport helicopter has successfully completed a comprehensive series of tests on a US helicopter carrier. Together with German industrial partners such as Rheinmetall the helicopter belonging to Lockheed Martin manufacturer Sikorsky is also taking part in the German STH competition with the model. The trials, which took place over around 14 days in the Atlantic Ocean, included take-off and landing from various deck positions during the day and at night under severe weather conditions, tests of the automatic rotor folding system and various compatibility tests on board. The transport helicopter from Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has thus reached one of the final milestones on the way to its upcoming deployment by the US Marine Corps. With the CH-53K, the US helicopter manufacturer is also taking part in the Bundeswehr’s current “Heavy Transport Helicopter” (STH) tender.

From the beginning of June, the aircraft completed a total of more than 360 take-offs and landings on the helicopter carrier (Landing Helicopter Dock – LHD) USS Wasp under sometimes very demanding conditions in order to realistically test its capabilities at sea. The helicopter was flown in a wide variety of wind conditions. It was also towed on deck and into the maintenance hangar and secured using various anchoring methods in different sea states. During this period, the CH-53K’s on-board maintenance crew checked the feasibility of various routine maintenance activities to ensure flight operations. “I’m very pleased with how the tests went,” said Col. Jack Perrin, H-53 Heavy Helicopter Program Manager at the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). “We have had the opportunity to evaluate the takeoff and landing of the CH-53K during the day, night and with night vision equipment. We are now at a point where we have successfully worked through all the elements to safely deploy our crews and the aircraft. All crews have been impressed with how much easier and safer it is to approach the flight deck and land the helicopter with the assistance of the fly-by-wire flight control system.” Major Joshua Foxton, test pilot with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO ONE (HX-21), was responsible for the planning and execution of this operation and, as a CH-53E pilot, emphasizes the difference between the different generations of aircraft: “Landing on a ship at night with low illumination is about the most difficult thing we do in the Marine Corps in this operational area. There is virtually no horizon reference and inadequate visual indicators to properly estimate the approach speed to the ship. In the CH-53E, we had to train for months to produce safe and ready crews. In contrast, the flight control and stabilization of the CH-53K allows an almost completely automatic (“hands-off”) approach and landing. I’ve never felt so safe in this scenario before and the opportunity to devote myself to other important tasks in the execution of the mission was absolutely impressive.”

Bill Falk, Director of the CH-53K program at Sikorsky, was also very satisfied: “The CH-53K has clearly proven itself during its first sea trials and in the execution of more than 360 take-offs and landings. The aircraft is one step closer to its operational deployment.” The U.S. Marine Corps plans to begin operational testing and preparation of the CH-53K in 2021 and deploy the helicopter for the first time in 2023/24. Following the successful completion of aerial refueling tests, as well as limited visual envelope (DVE) testing, recent sea trials have again demonstrated that the helicopter’s test program is progressing as planned. In the coming weeks, further flights will be carried out with vehicles and heavy equipment as internal and external loads at high altitudes and high temperatures (“hot&high”). The negotiation phase between the bidders and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) is currently underway in the German STH competition. A decision on the award is expected to be made in the first quarter of next year. Christian Albrecht, International Business Development Manager at Sikorsky, sees the successful completion of the latest series of tests as a positive sign for the German competition: “The sea trials, which represent an intersection of the possible use of an STH in the Bundeswehr and in operations with alliance partners, demonstrate the CH-53K’s wide range of possible applications. The tests clearly show that the CH-53K is the most modern, intelligent and powerful transport helicopter on the market. The early completion of the test phase will ensure the delivery of an operational, fully capable heavy transport helicopter to the German Armed Forces.” The helicopter’s automatic rotor folding system was also successfully used during the latest sea trials. In less than two minutes, the main rotor blades and the tail rotor can be folded at the touch of a button to significantly reduce the helicopter’s footprint. This functionality has already been used in the current fleet of CH-53Gs in the German Armed Forces for decades and, as a unique selling point of the CH-53K, would guarantee a seamless transition in the existing infrastructure at the future STH sites in Holzdorf and Laupheim. This would avoid lengthy infrastructure measures and follow-up costs and ensure interoperability in the deployment of the CH-53K from other Bundeswehr helicopter sites. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgbos3aPk08&feature=emb_title Sikorsky worked with the German technology company Rheinmetall formed a core team of well-known German industrial companies for the STH project. These include MTU Aero Engines, Autoflug GmbH and Hydro Systems KG. Around ten percent of production and 70 percent of maintenance work will therefore take place in Germany. According to current estimates, German industry will benefit from an order volume of around one billion euros. In addition, up to 500 additional highly qualified jobs are to be created in Germany. Eastern Germany could particularly benefit from the STH program, as Sikorsky and Rheinmetall are planning to build a logistics center and a Flight Management Operation Center near Leipzig.

Here for further reports on Lockheed-Martin, here to further reports about Sikorsky and here to further reports on Rheinmetall.