CH-53K

Abstract

The CH-53 is the only marinized heavy-lift helicopter in the world and is the Marine Corp's 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, six 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 on a pilot production line, and to provide aircraft for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. The remaining 194 aircraft will be Aircraft Procurement, Navy funded. FY15 RDT&E efforts focus on CH-53K SDD activities that include: ground and flight test of GTV, EDMs, associated subsystems and components, and the continued fabrication and assembly of SDTAs. 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, 2015
Source ID
0605212N_5_1319_PB_2015
Change Summary Explanation
Technical: Not applicable. Schedule - Late delivery of components into qualification, and subsequent qualification challenges, have delayed Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) delivery, Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR - GTV & 1st Flight), Engineering Development Models (EDM) delivery and CH-53K 1st Flight, and have moved Milestone C (MSC) and other associated events to 3Q 2016. Budgetary constraints delayed start of the Aircraft Procurement (APN) program by one year. As such, Advanced Acquisition Contracts (AAC) and LRIP awards have been adjusted accordingly. In order to procure aircraft that effectively demonstrate manufacturing processes are both mature and under control, two (2) additional RDT&E,N-funded System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTAs) in FY15 with delivery in 4Q 2018 and 1Q 2019 were added to the program.
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
  • Helicopters
  • Logistics
  • Manufacturing
  • Procurement
  • Production
  • Program Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering

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