WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.,
April 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced the CH-53K helicopter
has achieved its first external lift flight by successfully
carrying a 12,000 pound external load.
"Achieving our first external lift signifies another milestone
for the CH-53K program," said Mike
Torok, Sikorsky's Vice President of CH-53K Programs. "Our
flight envelope expansion efforts remain on track, and we continue
to make good progress toward our initial operational test
assessment later this year, and ultimately full aircraft system
qualification."
The first two CH-53K heavy lift helicopters achieved their first
flights on October 27, 2015, and
January 22, 2016, respectively. To
date these helicopters have achieved over 50 flight hours combined
including one flight at speeds over 140 knots. The
third and fourth King Stallion aircraft will join the flight test
program this summer.
As the King Stallion flight test program proceeds, both of the
current flying aircraft will be exercised to expand the external
load envelope. Initial external payloads weighing 12,000 pounds
will be flown first in hover and then incrementally to speeds up to
120 knots. The aircraft will then carry 20,000 and 27,000
pound external payloads.
The CH-53K King Stallion is equipped with single, dual and
triple external cargo hook capability that will allow for the
transfer of three independent external loads to three separate
landing zones in support of distributed operations in one single
sortie without having to return to a ship or other logistical
hub. The three external cargo hooks include a single center
point hook with a 36,000 lb. capability and dual-point hooks each
capable of carrying up to 25,200 lbs. The system features an
electrical load release capability from the cockpit and cabin, and
a mechanical load release capability at each of the pendant
locations. An auto-jettison system is incorporated to protect
the aircraft in the event of a load attachment point
failure.
"It is exciting to have achieved our first external lift,
another important step towards fielding the most powerful U.S.
military helicopter," said Col. Hank
Vanderborght, U.S. Marine Corps Program Manager for Heavy
Lift Helicopters. "Our program continues on pace to deploy this
incredible heavy lift capability to our warfighters."
Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin company, is developing the
CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter for the U.S. Marine
Corps. The King Stallion maintains similar physical dimensions and
"footprint" as its predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E SUPER
STALLION helicopter, but will more than triple the payload to
27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "high hot" ambient
conditions.
Features of the CH-53K helicopter include a modern glass
cockpit; fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth-generation rotor
blades with anhedral tips; a low maintenance elastomeric rotor
head; upgraded engines; a locking, United States Air Force pallet
compatible cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements;
survivability enhancements; and improved reliability,
maintainability and supportability.
The U.S. Department of Defense's Program of Record remains at
200 CH-53K aircraft. The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight
active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve
squadron to support operational requirements.
This press release contains forward looking statements
concerning opportunities for development, production and sale of
helicopters. Actual results may differ materially from those
projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including
but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and
practices, budget plans, availability of funding and in the type
and number of aircraft required; challenges in the design,
development, production and support of advanced technologies; as
well as other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to
those detailed from time to time in Lockheed Martin Corporation's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
For additional information, visit our website:
www.lockheedmartin.com
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace
company that employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin