GE Aviation awarded additional $101 million for CH-53K’s Engines

General Electric Aviation won a contract worth $111 million for the procurement of 20 turboshaft engines for a new heavy-lift helicopter form Sikorsky for the United States Marine Corps in December, and yesterday it was announced the General Electric subsidiary was awarded a $101 million contract for more engines.

This latest contract modification procures 21 T408-GE-400 turboshaft engines and associated engine, programmatic and logistics services in support of CH-53K Lot Five low rate initial production aircraft, according to the U.S. Department of Defense contract announcements.

Sikorsky CH-53K gets a quick-turn refuel while carrying an external load (Photo Courtesy Lockheed Martin)

The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is the premier heavy-lift helicopter built by the United States government, manufactured by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft. The helicopter will expand the military fleet's ability to move more material more more quickly.

This will become increasingly important as the United States prepares to distribute more military medical supplies in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

The power to move larger loads comes from three new GE T-408 engines. The T-408 enables the CH-53K to carry a 27,000-pound external load over 110 nautical miles in hot weather conditions (less efficient flying conditions).

This is nearly triple the external load carrying capacity of the current CH-53E aircraft powered by the T-64 engines.

GE Aviation said the T-408 turboshaft engine offers cutting edge technology and the latest design innovations for maximum power at minimum cost. They are more powerful and fuel efficient than the T-64 engines currently in use.

Work for the latest procurement order is expected to be completed in December 2024.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland made both contract decisions regarding the turboshaft engines, and both contract work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts.

The previous contract modification, announced December 30, procured 20 T-408-GE400 turboshaft engines, along with peculiar support equipment, and associated engine, programmatic and logistics services in support of CH-53K Lot Four low rate initial production and spares. Work will be completed bin 2023.

U.S. Air Force CV-22 Nacelle Improvement by Bell Boeing

Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office was awarded an $81 million firm target contract modification order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement.

Bell-Boeing is a joint venture (JV) between The Boeing Company and Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc. The strategic alliance currently manufactures the V-22 Osprey for US Marines, USAF, Navy and Japan.

This most recent order was contracted by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, for Naval and U.S. Air Force Aircraft.

The versatile, self-deployable CV-22 Osprey enables Air Force Special Operations Command aircrews to execute long-range special operations missions (Photo Courtesy U.S. Air Force).

The order modification provides continued non-recurring engineering support as well as the recurring procurement of kits and installs to support the forced retrofit of the nacelles on multiple U.S. Air Force aircraft models.

Bell-Boeing, will provide engineering, production, supportability and management support necessary to facilitate the incorporation of the improved nacelles into the fleet.

This requires implementation and installation of nacelle improvements and harness conversion for the CV-22 Osprey aircraft, and forced retrofit at the depot level of maintenance for previously delivered V-22 Osprey aircraft. 

These modifications support phase two of the nacelle improvements effort.

Maintenance being conducted on a V-22 Osprey engine nacelle.

The V-22 Osprey is known for its flexibility as tilt-rotor aircraft. It is an aircraft that takes off, hovers, and lands like a helicopter yet flies long distances like a turboprop aircraft. it can also be modified according to the services' needs.

The CV-22 variant has revolutionized special operations around the globe, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command, conducting all weather clandestine missions in hostile and politically sensitive areas utilizing multimode radar and robust defensive systems.

Bell Textron delivered the first CV-22 to Air Force Special Operations Command last June.

Work on the nacelle improvements contract will be conducted in multiple locations including Amarillo, Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, and Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Work is expected to be complete in June 2024.