CH-53K helicopter on airfield. Credit: MTU Aero Engines AG.

GE Aviation has launched the production of its T408-GE-400 engines that would power the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter.

Valued at $143.48m, the contract for the manufacture of 22 T408-GE-400 engines was awarded to the company by the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).

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Under the terms of the deal, GE Aviation will also be responsible for providing logistics and engineering support for the engine.

“The GE engines will increase the external load-carrying capacity of the helicopters by roughly three times compared to the USMC’s existing CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.”

Each CH-53K helicopter will be equipped with three T408 engines that would provide enough power to the aircraft to carry a 27,000lb external load over a mission radius of 110nm in the navy high / hot weather conditions.

The GE engines will increase the external load-carrying capacity of the helicopters by three times compared to the USMC’s existing CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter powered by GE Aviation’s T64 engine.

Also, the T408 engines will offer 57% additional power, 18% better specific fuel consumption and 63% fewer parts compared with its predecessor.

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Germany-based engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines, which has a work share of 18% in the T408 engine programme, will carry out the development and production of the power turbine for the engines.

The three-stage power turbine is capable of generating 7,378-rated shaft horsepower.

Built by Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky, 200 units of the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters will be delivered to the USMC, in addition to 800 of GE’s T408 engines.

The first squadron of CH-53K helicopters is expected to reach initial operational capability by next year.