The US Navy has commissioned Renk's American subsidiary, Renk Systems Corp., to develop, manufacture and install three test stands for transmissions for the CH-53K heavy transport helicopter. According to a statement from the US Department of Defense, the delivery of a test stand for the main gear and the intermediate gears in the tail and in the nose of the helicopter has been agreed. After installation, there is also the calibration of the stands, accompanying logistics, maintenance and support in operation as well as a supply of spare parts. The scope of delivery also includes technical manuals and operating instructions as well as associated data sets for operating the test stands with the CH-53K units. The contract value was given as 49 million US dollars (the equivalent of around 45 million euros).
The test stands are developed and manufactured in Germany by Renk Test System GmbH according to US requirements. To do this, Renk uses experience from operating transmission testing systems that are used in its own production process. The work is scheduled to be completed in November 2025.
Das U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) hat 200 CH-53K bestellt und Israel, als bisher einziger ausländischer Kunde 18 Maschinen. Seit Übergabe der ersten Maschine im Mai 2018 ist eine zweistellige Anzahl der Schwerlasttransporthubschrauber ausgeliefert worden. Am 21. Dezember hat die U.S. Navy die Serienproduktion freigegeben. Damit steigt die Produktionsrate auf 20 Flugzeuge pro Jahr an.
In Germany, the CH-53K was unable to prevail in the competition for the Bundeswehr's heavy transport helicopter.
Gerhard Heiming
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