U.S. Navy Enhances CH-53K® Training Experience with New Lockheed Martin Simulators
The United States Marine Corps will acquire enhanced training prospects to equip them for operating the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy lift helicopter. This aircraft is the most advanced and formidable helicopter in the Department of Defense’s inventory, proficient in transporting personnel and equipment from ship to shore, as well as to elevated terrains, quicker and more effectively than ever before.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will deliver an additional Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) to the U.S. Navy, with options for three more under the recent contract agreement. This advancement builds upon the success of the initial training device delivered in 2020 to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
“Marine aviators have seamlessly transitioned from the training apparatus to the actual CH-53K’s fly-by-wire cockpit and accomplished missions within the fleet environment – including air-to-air refueling,” stated Flash Kinloch, Lockheed Martin, vice president of Training and Simulation Solutions. “Training in this highly immersive virtual setting allows flight crews to practice the complete range of operations that can be executed on the aircraft in a safe, budget-friendly, and authentic manner.”
Flight crews will undergo training on the entire spectrum of Marine Corps heavy lift operations, including external lift missions, utilizing the comprehensive flight simulator that also imitates the diverse environmental conditions the aircraft is likely to encounter. Through this initiative, Lockheed Martin is assisting the Marine Corps in broadening the established and essential CH-53K Flight Training capabilities to more Marines.
The training devices encompass a complete cockpit for the aircraft operated by a pilot and co-pilot, along with an instructor operating station and a brief/debrief space. The newest training devices will feature enhancements that optimize system performance, enhance cost efficiency, and more closely align with the CH-53K aircraft for heightened training authenticity.
CH-53K Flight Teams Achieve Key Milestones
The Marine Corps attained Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the CH-53K in April after a successful testing phase that yielded over 3,000 accident-free hours flown in demanding environments and terrains.
The CH-53K CFTD enabled the training of mission scenarios that were subsequently executed during Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E). These include:
- Day and night air-to-air refueling
- Air-to-air refueling with a 27,000 lb. external load
- Sea trials with over 350 landings
- Operations in Degraded Visual Environments
