WICHITA,
Kan., June 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Spirit AeroSystems,
Inc. (NYSE: SPR) has received a $60 million contract from Sikorsky
Aircraft Corp. to supply the major structural cockpit and cabin
components of four additional CH-53K heavy lift helicopters.
Designated System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA), the four
production-representative aircraft will be used by the U.S. Marine
Corps to evaluate the helicopter's mission capabilities in service
operating conditions.
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"We are pleased to be moving forward with Sikorsky to the next
phase of hardware and systems testing. The CH-53K program is now
one step closer to providing critical heavy lift capability to the
Marines," said David Coleal, executive vice
president/general manager of Spirit AeroSystems. "We thank Sikorsky
and the U.S. Navy for their confidence in our ability to design and
build fuselages and cockpits that meet the requirements for this
important mission."
SDTA aircraft are expected to enter Operational Evaluation in
2017, when the Marine Corps will verify the CH-53K helicopter's
capability to carry 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under
"high hot" ambient conditions. The new capability will nearly
triple the external load carrying capacity of the current CH-53E
Super Stallion™ helicopter.
To date, Spirit has supplied Sikorsky with the cockpit and cabin
structures valued at $150 million for five prototype CH-53K
test helicopters and two non-flying test articles as part of a
$3.5
billion Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD)
awarded to Sikorsky in April 2006. The Navy modified the SDD
contract in May
2013 to include $435 million in funding for the four SDTA
aircraft, which Sikorsky is to deliver to the Navy by the end of
March
2017.
Spirit will begin work on the four SDTA cockpit and cabin
sections during 2013 at its Wichita, Kan. facility. Deliveries to
Sikorsky's CH-53K prototype assembly line in West Palm Beach,
Fla., will begin in 2014.
"We are pleased to have Spirit AeroSystems on the CH-53K team
providing critical structures for these Operational Evaluation
aircraft," said Dr. Michael Torok, Sikorsky's CH-53K Program
Vice President. "Spirit has demonstrated strong performance and
reliability as a key supplier during the System Development and
Demonstration phase. We look forward to their continued
success."
The Navy program of record plans for an additional 196 CH-53K
aircraft under future production contract to support the Marine
Corps' operational requirements. The Marine Corps plans for initial
operating capability in 2019.
On the web: www.spiritaero.com
On Twitter: @SpiritAero
About Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems, with headquarters in Wichita,
Kan., USA, is one of
the world's largest non-OEM designers and manufacturers of
aerostructures for commercial aircraft. In addition to its
Wichita and Chanute
facilities in Kansas, Spirit has locations in
Tulsa and McAlester,
Okla.; Kinston, N.C.; Nashville,
Tenn.; Prestwick, Scotland;
Preston,
England; Subang, Malaysia; and
Saint-Nazaire, France. In
the U.S., Spirit's core products include fuselages, pylons,
nacelles and wing components. Additionally, Spirit provides
aftermarket customer support services, including spare parts,
maintenance/repair/overhaul, and fleet support services in
North
America, Europe and Asia. Spirit
Europe produces wing components for a
host of customers, including Airbus.
This press release contains forward-looking statements
concerning future business operations. Actual results or
circumstances may vary materially from those indicated or implied
in this press release as a result of certain risks and
uncertainties, including our ability to continue to grow our
business and execute our growth strategy, including the timing,
execution, and profitability of new programs; changes in government
procurement priorities and practices, budget plans, availability of
funding and in the type and number of aircraft required; as well as
other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those
detailed in Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. Securities and
Exchange Commission filings.
SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.