New in 2018: CH-53K Super Stallion heavy-lift
helos
By: Jeff Schogol
The Corps’ rotary-wing fleet will get the first four
CH-53K Super Stallion helicopters delivered in 2018.
The CH-53K is meant to replace the fleet of aging CH-53E
Super Stallions, which have the worst readiness problems of all Marine Corps
aircraft. Those older aircraft were left in Iraq for years at a time during the
peak of the Iraq war, when dust and relentless daily missions severely
degraded their condition and capabilities.
The CH-53K helicopters will go through further testing
next year and in 2019 before being delivered to the operational fleet. As of
now, the Marine Corps expects to have its first four CH-53K helicopters with
combat-ready crews logistically prepared to deploy in 2019.
The Corps is also in the process of repairing and
refurbishing all 146 of its CH-53Es. As of December, the Marines had
overhauled 13 CH-53Es, which will continue this coming year.
“By 2019, the CH-53E community will have the right amount
of up-aircraft to achieve and maintain the optimal readiness through the end of
their service life and Full Operational Capability of the CH-53K in 2029,” said
Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns.
Original post: marinecorpstimes.com
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