GE Aerospace along with NAVAIR have been awarded a US$683.7 million (£547 million) contract for three more lots of T408 engines that will power the U.S. Marine Corps' heavy-lift helicopter, the Sikorsky CH-53K® King StallionTM. The contracts for engines and other ancillary services are subsequent to five previous contracts for T408 engines, the last being in January 2021. The GE Aerospace Lynn, Mass., plant will perform final assembly for these engines which should be delivered between 2024-2027.
“GE Aerospace is proud to build off its longstanding partnership with NAVAIR and Sikorsky to continue powering the CH-53K,” said Scott Snyder, T408 Program Director. “This additional contract represents another step forward for the T408 engine, which to date has more than 18,000 flight hours powering the CH-53K in some of the world's harshest operating environments.”
The CH-53K is powered by three T408 engines and achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the U.S. Marine Corps in April 2022. The engine produces 7,500 shaft horsepower, 57 percent more power than the GE Aerospace T64, its predecessor. The improved capabilities presented by the T408 will enable the CH-53K to perform its critical heavy-lift mission for the Marine Corps, joint forces and allies around the globe in challenging conditions. The T408 offers 18 percent better specific fuel consumption when compared to the T64, that will deliver significant savings over each engine's lifetime. The T408 also has 63 percent fewer parts and advanced designs, such as a more rugged compressor with erosion coating and split casing, that improves both reliability and maintainability.
Germany-based MTU Aero Engines is a T408 programme participant and is responsible for the production of the power turbine. In addition to GE Aerospace's Lynn, Mass., plant, GE facilities in Hooksett, N.H.; Rutland, Vt.; Madisonville, Ky.; Dayton, Ohio; and Jacksonville, Fla., also provide parts for this contract.
