{"id":32987,"date":"2020-01-14T16:13:18","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T16:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/14\/lockheed-boeing-enter-germanys-heavy-transport-helicopter-race\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:43:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:43:38","slug":"lockheed-boeing-enter-germanys-heavy-transport-helicopter-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2020\/01\/14\/lockheed-boeing-enter-germanys-heavy-transport-helicopter-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Lockheed, Boeing enter Germany\u2019s heavy transport helicopter race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLOGNE, Germany \u2014 Lockheed Martin\u2019s Sikorsky and Boeing have submitted their proposals for the German military\u2019s envisioned heavy transport helicopter program, the companies announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sikorsky is offering a version of the CH-53K designed for the U.S. Marine Corps, while Boeing is pitching the H-47 Chinook. The offers, due on Jan. 13, come in response to a request for proposals published by the Bundeswehr last summer. Government officials will spend the greater part of 2020 analyzing the submissions, with a second and final request for offers pegged for the end the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The multibillion-dollar STH program, short for Schwerer Transporthubschrauber, is meant to replace the German fleet of decades-old CH-53G copters. Deliveries from the winning bidder are slated to begin in 2024 and last through the early 2030s \u2014 that is if the program receives budgetary support from the government and lawmakers when the time comes for a contract next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both companies have assembled a group of German suppliers that would oversee areas such as maintenance, simulators and documentation in an effort to maximize domestic industry participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bundeswehr initially wanted a no-frills, off-the-shelf cargo helicopter that would be easy on the defense budget. Notably, the Germans also want to use the STH choppers for combat search-and-rescue operations, with plans to raise that mission profile throughout the Air Force\u2019s ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But last year’s solicitation came with an unexpected level of complexity, Frank Crisafulli, Sikorsky’s director of international business development for heavy helicopters, told reporters during a company presentation in Bonn, Germany, on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\t