via
Flight Global.
The upgrade path had been considered in preference to buying new
aircraft from Boeing. But despite the decision not to proceed, a senior
air force source says the service's current fleets of Apaches and Bell AH-1 Cobras
are able "to do the missions" required.
Meanwhile, the air force
will continue to operate its current Sikorsky CH-53 transport
helicopters until it can acquire the next-generation CH-53K. All other
alternatives "were evaluated and dismissed", an air force source says.
Israel is already conducting a 2025 upgrade programme to its CH-53s,
and the source says: "If needed we will prolong the life of this
excellent platform until its successor is ready."
The US Marine
Corps has a requirement for 200 CH-53Ks, with the service expecting the
programme to undergo its critical design review "this summer".
Sikorsky
should fly its first prototype in fiscal year 2013, with deliveries to
the USMC anticipated to start in FY2015-16 and initial operating
capability to be declared in 2018.
Awesome. Even if the budget axe comes out for the MV-22, a capable lifter is already in development...and with Germany, France, Israel, Taiwan, Singapore and the Marines ready to buy the airplane, its a bet to escape the hangman's noose.
I have been a big fan of the 53K for some time and would love to see it replace the Chinook and Merlin in UK service, complimented by the NH90/AW149
ReplyDeleteCoherency never seems to be our strong point so we will end up with various types of Merlin, Chinook, Puma and Lynx
The USMC rotary community (CV22 aside) seem to have a sensible long term plan, wringing maximum life out of existing platforms with selected upgrades over a long period. The UH1Y and Cobra equivalent are superb examples of this approach, it is one many others can learn lessons from.
What's happening to the Sea Knights by the way
those old girls are on their last legs. still in service but being replaced as we speak...the plan was for them to be gone by now but like the CH-53D, i bet they stick around for a while.
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