Sikorsky

Japan Issues Military Equipment Wishlist That Includes Hypersonic Weapons, Unmanned Systems

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, announced the successful completion of Japan Flight Test Mission-07 (JFTM-07), held off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii, on Nov. 18, 2022. MDA Photo

Japan’s Ministry of Defense this week issued a document detailing new military equipment it’s developing, with rationales and status updates for programs ranging from hypersonic weapons to unmanned underwater vehicles.

The capabili...

https://news.usni.org/2023/01/25/japan-issues-military-equipment-wishlist-that-includes-hypersonic-weapons-unmanned-systems

Navy Approves CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helicopter for Full-Rate Production

U.S. Marines with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) test the capabilities of the CH-53K King Stallion on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune on Dec. 16, 2021. US Marine Corps Photo

The Marine Corps’ new heavy-lift helicopter is now in the full-rate production stage of the program, the Navy announced last week.

The new stage comes after acting Navy acquisition chief Jay Stefany performed a program assessment and signed a Dec. 21 memo permitting the CH-53K King Stallion to...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/28/navy-approves-ch-53k-heavy-lift-helicopter-for-full-rate-production

Marine Corps Conducting Fleet Flight Tests of CH-53K Ahead of IOT&E This Summer

CH-53K, K3, piloted by Mr. Rob Pupalaikis and Maj. Joshua Foxton, flies an aerial refueling test with an external load on Sept. 28, 2020, from NAS Patuxent River, MD. Sikorsky Photo.

Operational test Marines have begun flying the new CH-53K ahead of this summer’s planned test event to bring the heavy lift helicopter to initial operational capability, the Navy’s program manager said today.

Marine Corps Col. Jack Perrin, the heavy lift helicopter program manager at Naval Air Systems Command, said...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/24/marine-corps-conducting-fleet-flight-tests-of-ch-53k-ahead-of-iote-this-summer

Last Piece of CH-53K Helicopter Trainer Triad Declared ‘Ready for Training’

Marine Corps aviators in the CH-53K Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) experience a highly immersive virtual environment. Sikorsky photo.

The final of three CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter trainers has been declared “ready for training,” and an industry/government team next month will begin training the squadron that will conduct the new helo’s initial operational test and evaluation.

The Composite Maintenance Trainer (CMT) just recently reached RFT, Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky announced...

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/02/last-piece-of-ch-53k-helicopter-trainer-triad-declared-ready-for-training

Navy Issues Sikorsky $550.4 Million Modification for 6 CH-53Ks

The CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter conducted sea trials aboard USS Wasp (LHD-1) in the Mid-Atlantic from June 8 – 21, 2020. US Navy photo.

The Navy has issued Lockheed Martin-owned Sikorsky a $550.4 million contract modification for the next lot of the Marine Corps’ new heavy-lift helicopter.

The Navy awarded Sikorsky the funds for six CH-53K King Stallions as part of lot 4 of the program’s low-rate initial production phase, according to an Oct. 26 Pentagon contract announcement.

“The...

https://news.usni.org/2020/10/27/navy-issues-sikorsky-550-4-million-modification-for-6-ch-53ks

VIDEO: Marines Pleased With CH-53K Success During Sea Trials Aboard USS Wasp

The CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter conducted sea trials aboard USS Wasp (LHD-1) in the Mid-Atlantic from June 8 – 21, 2020. US Navy photo.

The Marine Corps wrapped up its first sea trials with the new CH-53K King Stallion, crossing off one of the last big items on the to-do list before the heavy lift helicopter program can turn the aircraft over to the fleet for operational tests and a 2023 first deployment.

The 53K operated from USS Wasp (LHD-1) at sea from June 8 to 21, conducting...

https://news.usni.org/2020/06/25/video-marines-pleased-with-ch-53k-success-during-sea-trials-aboard-uss-wasp

Marines Tout CH-53K Helo As Success Story After ‘Technical Deficiencies’ Forced Program Reset

CH-53Ks fly in formation from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Jan. 9, 2020. Sikorsky photo.

CAPITOL HILL – Marine Corps leaders are looking forward to ramping up CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter production after military and industry leaders agree the program’s technical challenges are behind them.

During last year’s budget season hearings on the Hill, the focus of conversation around the 53K was a list of 126 deficiencies that had been identified, including the most talked-about issue of...

https://news.usni.org/2020/03/13/marines-tout-ch-53k-helo-as-success-story-after-technical-deficiencies-forced-program-reset

Top Stories 2019: Marine Corps Acquisition

Colored oil smoke indicates rotor wake and wind effects while external “tufts” adher to the outside of the CH-53K King Stallion showing surface airflow. These efforts validate a modification mitigating Exhaust Gas Re-ingestion for the new Marine Corps aircraft. US Navy photo.

This post is part of a series of review stories looking back at the top naval news from 2019.

The Marine Corps in 2019 continued on its path to modernize aging systems to allow Marines to move across the air, land and sea in...

https://news.usni.org/2019/12/30/top-stories-2019-marine-corps-acquisition

Marines, NAVAIR Declare CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helo Engine Problems Resolved

The CH-53K King Stallion lifts a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, January 18, 2018. The purpose of this exercise was to show the Capabilities of the CH-53K. US Marine Corps photo.

The Marine Corps and Sikorsky have resolved the engine integration issues that slowed down the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter program, the service announced today.

The helicopter’s test program was overhauled in the spring after falling behind due to testing...

https://news.usni.org/2019/12/17/marines-navair-declare-ch-53k-heavy-lift-helo-engine-problems-resolved

Congress Grants Additional Funding to Keep CH-53K Helicopter Testing on Schedule

The CH-53K King Stallion lifts a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, January 18, 2018. The purpose of this exercise was to show the Capabilities of the CH-53K. US Marine Corps photo.

Lawmakers approved a second batch of funding to supplement the Marine Corps’ CH-53K heavy lift helicopter program, which saw its flight test program overhauled after challenges with technologies and executing the test requirements efficiently.

Defense committees on...

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/30/congress-grants-additional-funding-to-keep-ch-53k-helicopter-testing-on-schedule

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