Role Heavy-lift cargo helicopter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight 27 October 2015
Introduction 22 April 2022
Status In production
Primary user United States Marine Corps
Number built 9
Developed from Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
The United States Marine Corps plans to receive 200 helicopters at a total cost of $25 billion. Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) testing started in April 2014; flight testing began with the maiden flight on 27 October 2015. In May 2018, the first CH-53K was delivered to the Marine Corps. On 22 April 2022, it was declared to have passed initial operational capability. Israel has also reportedly ordered the type; other potential export customers include Japan and Germany
The CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy lift helicopter, being a general redesign of the preceding CH-53E, the main improvements being the new engines and cockpit layout. It has over twice the lift capacity and radius of action of the CH-53E, and a wider cargo hold to allow it to carry a Humvee internally. A new composite rotor blade system is also used, featuring technology similar to that of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The CH-53K is powered by the General Electric GE38-1B engine, which was selected over the Pratt and Whitney Canada PW150 and a variant of the Rolls-Royce AE 1107C-Liberty used on the V-22 Osprey.[47] Each of the three T408 engines is rated at 7,500 shp (5,600 kW), and gives the CH-53K the ability to fly 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) faster than its CH-53E predecessoCeiling
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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
The UH-60 entered service with the U.S. Army's 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division in June 1979.[92] The U.S. military first used the UH-60 in combat during the invasion of Grenada in 1983.
The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion (Sikorsky S-95) is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter
he Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion (Sikorsky S-95) is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter