USMC: CH-53K meeting goals during live-fire testing on ground test vehicle

摘要

The Marine Corps' new CH-53K helicopter is meeting its goals during live-fire testing on a ground test vehicle, a Marine Corps spokeswoman told Inside Defense. The service started live-fire testing on the ground test vehicle at China Lake, CA, in April 2020 and is set to complete it by November 2021, program spokeswoman Megan Wasel said. The ground test vehicle is a CH-53K mounted to the ground and used for testing. "Live-fire testing on GTV has consisted of ballistic shots to various flight-critical systems and vulnerability-reducing features on the aircraft while it is remotely operated in a fully dynamic state," Wasel said. "Live-fire testing also includes evaluations of the armor systems on the CH-53K that provide protection to the aircrew and occupants." Wasel said testing has evaluated how the aircraft's systems would respond to expected threats in a combat environment.