Kratos to build maintenance trainers for CH-53K
Sikorsky has issued an $8.5 million contract to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for the design and development of maintenance training systems for the CH-53K heavy lift replacement helicopter. This is to include a full-fidelity Maintenance Training Device Suite (MTDS) and a Helicopter Emulation Maintenance Trainer (HEMT) for delivery to the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The full-fidelity MTDS provides a true-to-life environment for training and evaluating the maintainers of multiple subsystems on the CH-53K platform. The system supports maintenance training as well as remove-and-replace training for avionics systems, electrical systems, hydraulic systems and many other mechanical subsystems.
The HEMT uses a 3D virtual environment to support maintenance training scenarios. The HEMT will provide USMC CH-53K Enlisted Aircrew and maintainers with an accurate environment to train functional tests, fault isolation, troubleshooting, and remove and installation for 27 subsystems.
Jose Diaz, senior vice president of training solutions, Kratos, said: ‘Kratos is pleased to be selected by Sikorsky as a principal value added partner to provide maintenance training systems for the new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter. These advanced systems will significantly enhance the training performance for marine corps aircrews and maintainers.’
Sikorsky is developing the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter for the USMC to triple the external load carrying capacity of the existing CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter to more than 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under high and hot ambient conditions.
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