Witness the world's most expensive armored vehicle-carrying helicopter from the US
Trung Hieu - May 23, 2018 10:04
CH-53K King Stallion, with a unit price of up to 144 million USD/unit, has become the most expensive helicopter in the world and has just been put into operation in the US Marine Corps.
Last week, the US Marine Corps received its first CH-53K King Stallion helicopter at the base in New River, North Carolina,Business Insidersaid Colonel Hank Vanderborght, CH-53 program manager, this is the most powerful helicopter ever built in the US.
Designed by the famous helicopter company Sikorsky, the CH-53K King Stallion made its first flight on October 27, 2015. It was developed based on the CH-53A Sea Stallion.
Colonel Hank Vanderborght proudly declared that the CH-53K is not only the most powerful helicopter but also the most modern and intelligent one ever built. However, the CH-53K also holds the title of the most expensive helicopter with a unit price of up to 144 million USD, according toBloombergThis unit price is even higher than the F-35 stealth fighter.
The US Marine Corps will buy 200 CH-53K helicopters at a total cost of up to $25 billion. The program has been criticized for being too expensive for a helicopter whose primary mission is transport.
CH-53K is equipped with 3 T408-GE-400 turboshaft engines, capacity of 7,500 horsepower/engine, cruise speed of 315 km/h, combat radius of 204 km, operating range with internal fuel of 852 km.
The helicopter's cargo compartment is spacious and can accommodate two Humvees or a medium armored vehicle. The CH-53K can carry 37 fully equipped soldiers, with a maximum of 55 soldiers, or 12 tons of external cargo.
The CH-53K is equipped with a modern "greenhouse" cockpit with digital displays, providing full information for the 4-person crew. The main rotor uses blades made of high-strength composite materials.
The helicopter is lightly armed with two 12.7 mm machine guns mounted on either side of the rear window of the cockpit. The CH-53K will be the core tactical airlift force for the US Marine Corps in the future.
The V-280 Valor, the US military's future helicopter, has just conducted its first cruise flight at a speed of 350 km/h.
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