25 MAY, 2017 SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM BY:
DOMINIC PERRY LONDON
Sikorsky hopes it can secure at least 200
export orders for its CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, with Germany
and Israel its clearest near-term prospects.
Both nations are seeking to replace elderly
fleets of legacy CH-53s delivered in the 1970s and late 1960s, respectively.
Frank Crisafulli, sales director international,
heavy-lift helicopters at Sikorsky, describes Germany as the "closest
opportunity, provided it stays on schedule".
Sikorsky expects that Berlin will release a
request for proposals (RFP) by mid-2018, with a contract likely to be awarded
the following year.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2023 as
the country begins to retire its air force's remaining fleet of 81 CH-53GA/GS
rotorcraft.
Sikorsky will face competition in Germany
from the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. However, although its manufacturer is developing
a Block II upgrade for the US Army, recent reports suggest that it will not be
sold to international customers until 2026.
"The CH-53K will have been flying with
the US Marine Corps for four years [by 2023] so when it comes to a question of
maturity it will be the only mature heavy-lift platform that will be offered to
Germany in that timeframe," Crisafulli says.
He acknowledges that with a unit cost of
about $87 million the acquisition price of the King Stallion will be higher
than that of the Chinook, but stresses that lifecycle costs over the duration
of its service – likely to be 30-40 years with Germany – will be
"comparable… to our two-engined competitor".
He adds: "It's more expensive than the
Chinook, but it's literally twice the helicopter."
Although the baseline CH-53K has a maximum
take-off weight of 33,600kg (74,000lb) with an internal load – against 22,700kg
for the Chinook – Crisafulli is confident of capability growth. "It could
easily go to 80,000lb or 88,000lb," he says.
It also features a full glass cockpit and
fly-by-wire controls, he adds.
Berlin has yet to indicate the quantity of
helicopters it will require, but Crisafulli envisions a total procurement of
about 60 units; the nation had previously requested pricing for 41 CH-53Ks.
Although Germany's previous CH-53s, dating
from a 1972 contract, were assembled in-country, only sustainment activities
will be localised on this occasion.
Sikorsky is "in discussions with
multiple [potential] partners", Crisafulli says, noting that "nobody
is out of consideration".
"Back in 1972 we competed against the
Chinook with the -53D for the German campaign and we know how that ended up.
"We are again competing against the
Chinook with a brand-new helicopter that's designed for the future and they
have a patchwork of [engineering change proposals]," he says.
Sikorsky is hopeful that it will be able to
display the King Stallion at next year's ILA Berlin air show.
Tel Aviv, meanwhile, is looking for
deliveries to start in about 2025 as it begins the replacement of its 23-strong
CH-53 "Yas'ur" fleet, with the Chinook again the other likely
contender.
However, Crisafulli says Sikorsky has begun
early discussions with "at least three other countries" on the
CH-53K.
He hopes international sales will be
"equal to or greater than" the 200 examples being procured by the
USMC. "Certainly we are having talks that could indicate that it’s along
that level of magnitude."
Low-rate initial production of the King
Stallion will begin at Sikorsky's plant in Stratford, Connecticut in 2018, with
first delivery to the USMC also due that year. Initial operational capability
is expected in 2019, with full operational capability in 2029.
Original post: flightglobal.com
Related post:
CH-53K Super Stallion Heavy-Lift Helicopter:Details
No comments:
Post a Comment