STRATFORD, Conn., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. company Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced successful completion of the CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Critical Design Review.
The CH-53K program is now ready to move to assembly, test and evaluation of the aircraft, it said in a news release.
"This successful CDR confirms the program is on the right track and is a significant step forward for the CH-53K helicopter program," said John Johnson, Sikorsky program manager for the CH-53K helicopter program. "Sikorsky and NAVAIR are well-aligned in this collaborative effort and this CDR brings us closer to delivering a vital tool to the U.S. Marine Corps' future heavy lift mission."
The joint Sikorsky/Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR, CH-53K helicopter program met for a week late last month with stakeholders and key collaborators from government and industry for the in-depth aircraft design review, Sikorsky said. Review participants included members of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, NAVAIR, Sikorsky Aircraft and 21 major industrial partners who displayed component exhibits that augmented technical presentations.
Sikorsky has been building CH-53 helicopters for the Marines since in 1963. The heavy lift mission is currently being performed by the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion and CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter models.
The company received a $3 billion System Development and Demonstration contract on April 5, 2006, to develop a replacement for the CH-53E.
