An artist’s rendering of the planned Sikorsky VH-92A presidential helicopter. Sikorsky Image
Lockheed Martin announced the successful first flight of a test VH-92A, configured for use by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), and ultimately destined to transport the President and other dignitaries. Read More
The Bell V-247 tiltrotor is an unmanned aerial system (UAS) that will combine the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft, and would provide long-endurance persistent expeditionary and surveillance and fires capabilities. Bell Image
Getting reliability, maintenance and a backbone built on open architecture right first is how the Pentagon is approaching its future vertical lift programs, defense officials said on Tuesday. Read More
U.S. Marine Corps pilots maneuver a CH-53K King Stallion as it delivers a 12,000 pound external load after completing a 110 nautical mile mission during the two-week initial operational test (OT-B1) conducted at Sikorsky. Sikorsky photo.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Pentagon today formally approved the Marine Corps’ CH-53K Super Stallion heavy lift helicopter program to move into production. Read More
An artist’s rendering of the planned Sikorsky VH-92A presidential helicopter. Sikorsky Image
The next presidential helicopter program has passed its critical design review ahead of the first test flight in 2017, Sikorsky said in a Monday statement. Read More
The U.S. Marine Corps’ newest helicopter, the CH-53K, completed its first external load flight test carrying a 20,000 lb. load May 26 at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Sikorsky photo.
The Marine Corps is advancing through its test plan for the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy lift helicopter faster than previously planned, with the service successfully carrying a 20,000-pound load externally for the first time on May 26. Read More
A MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter, assigned to the Island Knights of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 on Guam in 2015. US Navy Photo
SAN DIEGO – The Pentagon’s Joint Multirole (JMR) investigation into a new generation of helicopters is highlighting the differences between what the Army and Navy need in terms of vertical lift aircraft, Navy and industry said last week. Read More
A damaged U.S. Army helicopter rests on the desk of the USNS Red Cloud off Okinawa island, southern Japan on Aug. 12, 2015. Kyodo Photo
A Wednesday hard deck landing of a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on the deck of a Military Sealift Command (MSC) transport has left several injured, according to a release from U.S. Forces Japan. Read More
Lockheed Martin will buy Sikorsky later this year, giving the company full control over the MH-60R and S lines. Lockheed Martin photo.
This post has been updated to include comments from Lockheed Martin regarding how the acquisition of Sikorsky will affect the Navy’s MH-60 program.
Lockheed Martin announced it will acquire Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies Corp for $9 billion, inheriting both military and commercial rotary-wing aircraft lines, including the Navy’s MH-60 Seahawk. Read More
SB-1 Defiant. Boeing Photo
The U.S. Army has picked designs from Bell Helicopter and a Sikorsky/Boeing team to continue development of Joint Multi-Role (JMR) high-speed rotorcraft designs. Read More
SB-1 Defiant. Sikorsky Photo
A joint Sikorsky-Boeing team has submitted their initial design for a new high-speed compound helicopter called the SB-1 Defiant to the U.S. Army. Read More
