{"id":19102,"date":"2018-05-01T19:03:55","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T19:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/01\/the-corps-will-take-first-delivery-of-new-ch-53-king-stallion-soon\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:43:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:43:22","slug":"the-corps-will-take-first-delivery-of-new-ch-53-king-stallion-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/05\/01\/the-corps-will-take-first-delivery-of-new-ch-53-king-stallion-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"The Corps will take first delivery of \u2018most powerful helicopter in the Defense Department\u2019 in May"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It just wrapped up its international debut at the ILA Berlin Air Show in Berlin in April. Now the Corps expects to take its first delivery of its new heavy lift helicopter<\/a> at the New River air station in North Carolina in May, according to Marine officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capable of lifting 36,000 pounds externally and moving 27,000 pounds for 110 nautical miles, the CH-53 King Stallion\u2019s<\/a> vertical lift capability is three times that of its predecessor, the CH-53E. It is the most powerful helicopter in the Defense Department, Capt. Sarah Burns, a Marine spokeswoman, told Marine Corps Times in an emailed statement Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new heavy lift helicopter will be handed over to the Marines for further testing at the New River air station and will be operational by 2019, according to Burns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, despite rave reviews from Marine officials, the CH-53K has come under criticism for its steep costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research and development costs are nearly $7.1 billion and total acquisition of the aircraft is estimated at over $27 billion, which sets a price tag of nearly $138 million per aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\t