CH-53K

Abstract

The CH-53 is the only marinized heavy-lift helicopter in the world and is the Marine Corps only heavy-lift helicopter. The CH-53 mission is the conduct of expeditionary heavy-lift assault transport of armored vehicles, equipment and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations. The CH-53E "Super Stallion" was introduced into operations in 1980 as an upgrade version of the CH-53D. The CH-53E has developed performance degradation, fatigue life, interoperability, maintenance supportability, and other operational concerns. An improved CH-53 is needed to support Marine Air-Ground Task Force heavy-lift requirements in the 21st century joint environment. The CH-53K will provide improvements in range and payload, performance, cargo handling, turn-around times, reliability and maintainability, interoperability, and survivability. The CH-53K program is required to provide full system capability, including shipboard compatibilities, at Initial Operational Capability (IOC). Total aircraft quantities for the CH-53K program are 205 helicopters. This includes one Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) and four Engineering Development Models (EDMs) for System Development and Demonstration (SDD), to be purchased with Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) funds. Of the remaining 200 aircraft, four (4) will be System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA's) and will be incrementally funded using RDT&E funds. The SDTA's will be used to prove out production and integration processes for airworthy helicopters on a pilot production line, and to provide aircraft for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. The remaining 196 aircraft will be Aircraft Procurement, Navy funded. FY14 RDT&E efforts focus on CH-53K SDD activities that includes EDM fabrication and assembly, ground and flight test of GTV and EDMs, and continued fabrication of SDTAs and associated components. JUSTIFICATION FOR BUDGET ACTIVITY: This program is funded under SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION because it includes those projects that have passed Milestone B approval and are conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production decision.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2014
Source ID
0605212N_5_1319_PB_2014
Change Summary Explanation
Technical: Not applicable. Schedule: Government Test Vehicle Light Off (GTV) delivery occurred one quarter later than depicted and GTV Light Off moved to 1Q14. This delayed delivery of the GTV was due to late component qualification across the aircraft build. The Delay in delivery of the GTV further delayed the Flight Readiness Review - First Flight and the Production Readiness review, First flight has slid to the right for the same reasons that moved the GTV. The Developmental Test/TECHEVAL period moved to properly align with first flight and the formal commencement of the flight test period.
Service Agency Name
Navy

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Assembly
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Developmental Tests
  • Engineering
  • Fabrication
  • Government Furnished Equipment
  • Helicopters
  • Manufacturing
  • Procurement
  • Production
  • Program Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering

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