The H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261) welcomed their new program manager during a change of command ceremony on May 11.

Maj. Gen. Greg Masiello, program executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault & special mission programs (PEO(A)), served as guest speaker and officiating officer, applauding Col. Jack Perrin for his leadership and welcoming Col. Kate Fleeger to the leadership role.

Israeli Air Force (IAF) Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Eyal Grinboim visited Naval Air Station Patuxent River in February for a program update and flight on the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter.

Grinboim and his staff met with Maj. Gen. Gregory Masiello, program executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault and special mission programs (PEO(A)). Masiello and Col. Jack Perrin, program manager, heavy lift program office (PMA-261), gave the IAF group an overview of the CH-53K program and a status update on current tests and production.

The CH-53K King Stallion test team, part of the Heavy Lift Program Office, PMA-261, is the recipient of the Department of the Navy Test and Evaluation Working Integrated Product Team (WIPT) award for 2021.

The 18-person WIPT will be honored in a virtual ceremony this spring. According to the award announcement the team, “demonstrated superior performance in delivering outcomes while overcoming significant challenges in execution.”

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has signed a Letter of Acceptance with the United States government to purchase the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter on December 30.

“We’re happy the IAF recognizes the unrivaled capabilities and performance of the K and have chosen to move forward with us,” said Colonel Jack Perrin, Program Manager, heavy lift helicopter program office (PMA-261). “Welcome to the CH-53K family!”

The CH-53K King Stallion successfully recovered a Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Mount Hogue in the White Mountains of California on Sunday, September 5. The two-day operation was the first official fleet mission for the Marine Corps’ new heavy lift capability, which is in the midst of Initial Operational Test and Evaluation with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Ca.

A contract to build nine CH-53K™ King Stallion™ helicopters with an additional contract option for nine more aircraft was awarded to Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company on June 25.

The Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Lot 5 contract will deliver nine aircraft in 2024 as part of a 200 aircraft program of record for the U.S. Marine Corps. The Lot 5 contract contains an option for Lot 6, for an additional nine aircraft with a contract award in FY22.

As announced during a live Department of Defense event, Dec. 15, the 2020 Defense Acquisition Workforce Award for Individual Achievement in the Test and Evaluation has been awarded to Mr. Eric Fallabel. As part of the  CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter program’s test team from 2018 to 2020, Fallabel has guided the test team through testing challenges as they prepare to enter Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) in 2021.

“I am excited and honored to receive this award,” said Fallabel upon his recognition “It’s a big one!”

In early May, the Marines in Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced) were facing a problem. While deployed to the Gulf of Arabia in support of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, one of the squadron’s CH-53E Super Stallions experienced a broken gear in the main rotor gearbox. The damage rendered the aircraft inoperable and awaiting repair aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).

The CH-53K King Stallion completed a two-week period of sea trials in the Atlantic earlier this month. This was the first opportunity to see the aircraft working in a modern naval environment.

Testing took place on the USS Wasp, a landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ship operated by the U.S. Navy. 

“I’m very pleased with how the ship tests went,” said Col. Jack Perrin, H-53 helicopters program manager. “We were able to assess the K taking off and landing day, night, and with night vision goggles and it performed extremely well.”

Four CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft recently completed an extensive maintenance process, known as RESET, allowing for additional aircraft to return to the fleet.

RESET is a period of dedicated maintenance that re-baselines all squadron-level inspections; replaces high-time components; and delivers a leak-free, Full Mission Capable (FMC) aircraft with zero awaiting-maintenance discrepancies back to the warfighter.