Monica Jackson
Sikorsky Aircraft President Dan Schultz has said the company’s first CH-53K King Stallion delivery to the U.S. Marine Corps initiates the distribution of the new heavy-lift cargo helicopter, which will be used for combat and relief operations.
“With 18 additional aircraft in various stages of production already, the entire Sikorsky team, in partnership with our suppliers, is looking forward to delight our customer,†Schultz added in a statement published Wednesday.
Marines will evaluate the maintenance, sustainment and aviation logistics support of the first CH-53K aircraft at the Marine Corps Air Station New River base in Jacksonville, N.C.
The Marine Corps will also assess how its maintainers will sustain the helicopter.
Sikorsky is scheduled to deliver a second CH-53K to the service branch in the first half of 2019.
The Lockheed Martin subsidiary aims to help Marines build a fleet of 200 King Stallion helicopters to replace their aging CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft.
