Pentagon Approves Helicopter Upgrade For The USMC With The CH-53K King Stallion

Following production approval from the Pentagon, the U.S. military is getting some new helicopters from Lockheed Martin Corp. On April 4th, the Department of Defense announced that production of 200 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters could begin. The new aircraft are set to replace the CH-53E Super Stallions that have been used by U.S. Marines for field logistics over the last three decades. Image Source: Wikimedia Built In Connecticut The new King Stallions will come at a cost of roughly $87 million each, with $105 million in spare parts and service contracts. The program amounts to $27 billion and includes $6 billion going to research and development. The actual order will be fulfilled by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin based in Stratford, CT. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy expressed his optimism for Connecticut’s employment and prosperity following the news, as he said in a written statement on April 4th, “This isn’t only about Sikorsky — it’s also about the supply chain companies and the thousands of employees in every corner of our state who will benefit.” Impressive Cargo And Carrying Capabilities As an upgrade for the Marines, the new CH-53K King Stallion will have a significant carrying capacity of 36,000 pounds—triple that of the Super Stallion. In addition to its ability to handle 18 ton loads, at full capacity the King Stallion still has the ability to fly higher and faster than current aircraft. The helicopter’s cargo bay will be able to fit Humvees (High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles) used by Marines. The latest CH-53K King Stallion has also been modified to correct issues with excessive engine compartment heat, which caused problems on the ground during earlier testing. Image Source: Wikimedia Set For 2018 Delivery Sikorsky Aircraft aims to deliver the first four CH-53K King Stallion helicopters in 2018, with an additional two thereafter. Ten Marine Corps squadrons will then begin transition training from the CH-53E Super Stallion to the CH-53K following the first fulfillments. [embed]https://youtu.be/gwjlvkYhFuo[/embed] Are you eager to see the new CH-53K King Stallion helicopters in action? Tell us your thoughts on this new defense project in the comments.   Article Sources http://fortune.com http://www.ctpost.com http://www.businessinsider.com

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