USMC takes delivery of first CH053 King Stallion helicopter from Sikorsky
NewsMay 17, 2018
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, reports that it delivered the first CH-53 King Stallion helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), the first of an expected 200 helicopters for the Marines' fleet.
This initial CH53K heavy-lift helicopter will be stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where it will enter into the "Supportability Test Plan," under which the Marines will conduct a logistics assessment on the maintenance, sustainment, and overall aviation logistics support of the King Stallion. The assessment -- also meant to validate maintenance procedures with Marine Corps maintainers conducting hands-on care/upkeep of the aircraft -- is aimed at ensuring readiness and support on the flightline when CH-53K helicopters enter into service with the USMC.
Sikorsky expects to deliver its second CH-53K helicopter to the USMC in early 2019.
