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2020-02-02

King Stallion Vies for Germany’s STH Programme

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and Rheinmetall representing the German industry team, recently submitted a bid for the production and operation of the Sikorsky CH-53K (King Stallion) as the Bundeswehr's new heavy-lift transport helicopter for its "Schwerer Transporthubschrauber" (STH) programme. Looking at lifecycle costs, mission requirements and capability, the CH-53K aims to deliver long-term value.

“Our entire team is pleased to offer the CH-53K, the most efficient, capable and intelligent helicopter that will deliver the best long-term value to the Bundeswehr through the 21st century,” said Beth Parcella, Sikorsky International Business Development Director.

Sikorsky formed a German industrial team at an early stage of the project and ensured that the expertise of the local teammates was directly incorporated into the bid. A large part of the project's added value would thus be generated in Germany. The German CH-53K team is led by Rheinmetall. Additional teammates of Sikorsky among others include Autoflug, Collins Aerospace, HENSOLDT, HYDRO Systems, MTU Aero Engines, Rohde & Schwarz, Vincorion and ZFL. The German-U.S. CH-53K team is the foundation for a successful STH programme and guarantees high availability of the helicopter as well as reliable support and maintenance throughout the entire lifecycle of the helicopter.

Parcella stressed that it was important "to build a strong German industrial team early on and to capitalise on the know-how of the German teammates for the STH project. This will ensure the quality of the offer and subsequently the high availability of the CH-53K in the German Air Force,” she said.

Mike Schmidt, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH said: “German companies will play a significant role in the success of the CH-53K programme. For the industry, this means the creation of many new, long-term jobs for highly qualified employees and an important transfer of know-how.”

In addition to the core team, other companies in the German defence industry would ultimately benefit from the procurement project. "Sikorsky and Rheinmetall prepared the application together over a long period of time – this has strengthened the bonds within our team. We have developed into a highly effective unit," he added.

Unmatched Capabilities

The CH-53K’s avionics and digitised flight control systems are designed to accommodate future software upgrades, and its internal payload capability may be increased substantially in the future with relatively simple modifications. An integrated sensor system enables the aircraft to predict and prevent problems at an early stage and thus reduce the maintenance effort, which is a key element for high availability rates of the fleet.

Additionally, the CH-53K is equipped with air-to-air refuelling fully interoperable with Lockheed Martin's KC-130J tanker aircraft, which reportedly, the Bundeswehr is planning to operate, and which is already being used by France. Thanks to the design of the cargo bay, the CH-53K easily accommodates the same air transport pallets, enabling fast cargo handling between fixed-wing transport aircrafts such as the C130-J and the A400M. This means that the helicopter can be used particularly in areas where these aircraft cannot land.

Furthermore, the CH-53K can be used for the tactical transport of personnel and material as well as for disaster relief, humanitarian missions, medical evacuation (medevac) or combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations. For example, no other heavy-lift helicopter in the world can apparently transport more water to fight fires and simultaneously carry material and personnel. The combination of high airspeed, a large water capacity and long mission endurance in operational areas allows the CH-53K to transport up to four times more water to fight fires.

The CH-53K can move personnel and equipment more quickly and safely, meaning operators would not need as many aircraft to execute a mission. It will be safer and easier to operate, which will protect the pilots, the crew and the cargo, also providing value. The aircraft features fly-by-wire flight controls, reducing the pilots’ workload and allowing pilots to anticipate limits while keeping their eyes outside. This is a potentially lifesaving capability in degraded conditions and allows precise control inputs when delivering an external load.

Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky have flown more than 1,200 test flight hours and the CH-53K has achieved key milestones in 2018 such as high altitude, hot temperature, and degraded visual environment flights and continues to accomplish test points demonstrating this aircraft’s unmatched capabilities.

The CH-53K can carry a 12,200 kg/27,000 lb external load over 204 km /110 nautical miles in high/hot conditions (33°C/91.5°F at an altitude of 914m/3,000 feet), which is more than triple the external load carrying capacity of the CH-53E aircraft.

With its external lift capabilities, and a wider cabin (30 cm/12 in), the CH-53K is the ideal choice for transporting more cargo or troops with fewer trips. The larger cabin is able to carry 463L pallets and High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), which offers flexible configurations for maximum mission effectiveness and facilitates loading/unloading of cargo without reconfiguring and removing troop seating.

If the bid is successful, Sikorsky and Rheinmetall intend to set up a logistics hub and a STH fleet support centre at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The companies are in advanced talks with representatives of the state government, local companies and the airport operator.

Reference Text/Photo:www.rheinmetall-defence.com,www.lockheedmartin.com

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