Spirit delivers CH-53K SDTA fuselage to USMC
Spirit AeroSystems has delivered the fifth System Demonstration Test Article (SDTA) CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter fuselage to the US Marine Corps (USMC), the company announced on 25 April.
Major assembly on the fuselage for SDTA six, the final SDTA helicopter, is underway. Spirit is responsible for the assembly of the composite cockpit and cabin structure and the separately attached tail section, and delivering the complete fuselage to Sikorsky.
The lightweight structures support the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter's ability to conduct unrefueled missions carrying 27,000lbs over 110 nautical miles in high/hot conditions. This is triple the load-carrying capacity of the current CH-53E Super Stallion.
Spirit has already delivered 12 units including the ground test vehicles. The next batch is in major assembly with low rate initial production starting later in 2018.
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