Ramona Adams
Lockheed Martin has obtained approval from the U.S. military to demonstrate its new CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter at an April 2018 air show in Berlin, Germany, Reuters reported Thursday.
Anonymous sources told Reuters that the event will mark the international debut of the Sikorsky-built helicopter, which will compete with Boeing‘s CH-47 Chinook twin-rotor platform for a potential $4.7 billion deal to replace Germany’s fleet of CH-53G aircraft.
In April, Lockheed was given the go-ahead to transition CH-53K into low-rate initial production after the helicopter completed production readiness reviews and initial operational assessment by the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Marine Corps expects to declare combat readiness of CH-53K in 2019.
Germany could buy 40 CH-53Ks and start helicopter procurement in 2023, the report noted.
