Saturday, February 8, 2025
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Naval Air Systems Command is preparing to publish a request for proposals in January for a forward-looking infrared system for the CH-53K heavy lift aircraft, according to a notice published last week.
The FLIR is an avionics component providing navigation and situational awareness capabilities to the helicopter, enabling pilots to see in low-visibility conditions like rain and fog, the notice indicates.
Before releasing the official RFP, the Navy plans to hold an industry day in December at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. NAVAIR hosted an initial industry day last fall and has outlined preliminary system specifications.
According to a draft statement of work included in last week’s notice, “the contractor shall provide a FLIR system for integration into the CH-53K and provide data necessary to support the FLIR system’s operation, maintenance, installation, calibration, testing and platform software development.”
The FLIR will be mounted on a “slewable stabilized turret with target detection and tracking, servo control, video processing, digital data processing and signal conditioning functions,” the notice states. The system’s total weight -- including the turret -- will not exceed 106 pounds, and it must be capable of detecting a “standing man-sized target” from 3.8 kilometers away.
The CH-53K will replace the legacy CH-53E as the Navy and Marine Corps’ primary, and only, heavy-lift aircraft. The Marine Corps is planning an initial deployment in calendar year 2026. The services plan to procure 200 of the aircraft in total, including 19 in FY-25 for approximately $2.5 billion.
The FY-25 budget request also looks to begin a multiyear procurement deal to purchase up to 321 aircraft engines over the next five years, and the Marine Corps’ latest unfunded priorities list includes $250 million for two additional CH-53Ks.
In April, the Navy asked Congress for the authority to enter a block-buy contract during FY-25 or FY-26 for up to 37 CH-53K airframes -- a move expected to save $135 million compared to single-year contracts.