CH-53K Helicopter
Choose a section
Learn More
21st Century Design
Section 1
Section 2
Competitive Advantage
Section 3
Progress to Date
Back
"We have not found another platform that can accomplish everything we can off of a ship at the distances and the weight that we're asking [the CH-53K] to do." ~ LtGen Steven Rudder, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps
Fly-by-Wire (FBW)
Modern Glass Cockpit
Powerful New Engines
All-Composite Rotor Blades
Larger Cabin
Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring System
FBW flight controls replace conventional mechanical flight controls with a computerized interface, enabling pilots to maneuver smoother and safer — no matter what weather or obstacles they face.
Fewer buttons and more touchscreens allow pilots to have all the info they need right at their fingertips.
Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring System (IVHMS)
Designed with the maintainer in mind, the K has been optimized for easy field maintenance operations, based on direct input from CH-53 technicians, crew chiefs and flight engineers. The Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring System (IVHMS) provides information on the specific issue and its location.
Three T408 General Electric turboshaft engines mean the K can carry more, go further and faster in some of the world’s harshest operating conditions, including high and hot environments.
Fourth generation composite rotor blades offer improved performance and corrosion resistance.
The cabin allows flexible configurations and facilitates loading/unloading of cargo, to include 463L pallets and HMMWVs, without removing troop seats to support dynamic re-tasking from troop lift to internal cargo to external lift missions.
Single, Dual and Triple External Cargo Hooks
Single, Dual and Triple External Cargo Hook
The three independent cargo hooks provide increased flexibility and capability for distributed operations over legacy aircraft. The center hook has a 36,000 lb capacity, while the two other hooks can each carry 25,200 lbs. The CH-53Ks external cargo system combined with the CH-53K’s power generates moving more heavy cargo with less sorties.
Here’s how the CH-53K outperforms the competition:
Lift Capacity: With a 36,000 lb payload capacity, the CH-53K is the most powerful helicopter in the world. It can carry everything from a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) to a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) to humanitarian assistance to disaster relief supplies. Range: The CH-53K can travel distances and in environmental extremes with triple the cargo of the legacy aircraft it replaces and double it’s nearest competitor. The competition isn’t even designed or built to operate in a marinized environment. All-Environment Performance: The CH-53K retains its performance in high, hot, low visibility, and sea-based environments.
First aircraft delivered to U.S. Marine Corps
Strategic Lift Certified for C-17 and C-5
Improved Survivability
JLTV Lift
Lifted 36,000 pounds
DVE Testing
First Delivery
We delivered the first of 200 CH-53K helicopters to the U.S. Marine Corps in May 2018 at MCAS New River where that helicopter has successfully completed its Log Demo, The Marines recently awarded us a contract for 12 production helicopters.
Strategic Lift Certified
The CH-53K program achieved its Air Transportability Test Loading Activity certification for both a C-5 and C-17 aircraft.
The CH-53K proved it could conquer brownout conditions during recent testing at the Yuma Proving Ground.
Air Refueling Capabilities
The CH-53K King Stallion successfully completed an air-to-air refueling test with the help of a Lockheed Martin KC-130J aerial refueling tanker.
At 22,600 lbs, JLTVs are hefty vehicles. The K recently showed it could handle carrying this — and even more.
36,000 lb Lift
Built to lift nearly 14 Tons will meet current and future lift requirements. The CH-53K completed an external lift of a 36,000-pound payload, achieving a maximum weight on the single center point cargo hook.
The CH-53K provides enhanced survivability and force protection over legacy platforms. More power and capability & capacity means less sorties and less flights in harm’s way while the fly-by-wire and DVE capability protect aircraft and crew while allowing the crew to focus on their mission vice high workload of flying in challenging environments.
No other heavy lift helicopter in the world can carry as much, as far as the CH-53K in high, hot and sea-based environments. Here’s how the CH-53K outperforms the competition:
Lift Capacity: With a 36,000 lb payload capacity, the CH-53K is the most powerful helicopter in the world. It can carry everything from a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) to a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV).
Distance: The CH-53K can travel 110 nautical miles in sea-based environments, while the CH-53E can travel around 70 nautical miles and the CH-47F can’t fly in a marinized environment.
All-Environment Performance: The CH-53K retains its performance in high, hot or low visibility environments up to 91.5° F at 3000 feet above sea level.
