GE makes engines for King Stallion Lot Five production
Three turboshaft engines equip the CH-53K, giving the heavy-lift helicopter the power to carry a 12,000kg external load.
GE Aviation is to produce 21 T408-GE-400 turboshaft engines and associated services in support of CH-53K King Stallion Lot Five low rate initial production aircraft, the US DoD announced on 13 January.
Work on the $101.47 million contract modification from Naval Sea Systems Command will be completed by December 2024.
Three 7,500shp-class T408-GE-400 engines equip the CH-53K, giving the heavy-lift helicopter the power to carry a 12,000kg external load over a mission radius of 200km in hot weather conditions. This is nearly triple the external load-carrying capacity of current aircraft.
In October 2020, Sikorsky was awarded a $550 million contract to supply six Lot-4 low-rate initial production CH-53Ks to the USN, bringing to 24 the total number of King Stallions under contract.
According to the DoD FY2021 budget estimate, the flyaway unit cost of the CH-53K is $125.2 million.
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