Ramona Adams
Lockheed Martin-owned Sikorsky has completed the flight test of its second CH-53K King Stallion helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps heavy-lift rotorcraft program.
Lockheed said March 14 the second helicopter first flew on Jan. 22 while the initial CH-53K carried out its flight on Oct. 27 to account for 35 flight hours combined.
Sikorsky will add two more CH-53K units during the projected three-year flight test program in an effort to comply with the Marine Corps’ requirements.
Col. Hank Vanderborght, Marine Corps program manager for heavy lift helicopters said the program is “on pace” to deliver heavy lift support to warfighters.
The first two helicopters were designed to focus on structural flight loads and envelope expansion features while the next two are being built to prioritize performance, propulsion and avionics, the aerospace company said.
The service branch plans to acquire 200 CH-53K helicopters to distribute among eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron and one reserve squadron, Lockheed noted.
