The third fuselage for Sikorsky Aircraft's CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter program demonstrator has been delivered by Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

The comes under a System Demonstration and Test Article contract for the final production configuration of the aircraft, which Sikorsky is building for the U.S. Marine Corps.

The consisting of an integrated cockpit and cabin structure with a separately attached tail section. A fourth fuselage is also to be provided later this year.

"Spirit AeroSystems is pleased to be a major supplier to a new generation, heavy-lift helicopter capability for the Marine Corps," said Phil Anderson, Spirit senior vice president of Defense Programs. "The strong, lightweight composite structures we are providing to Sikorsky will in turn give the Marine Corps a much needed increase in payload capability."

Added Chris Falo, Spirit's CH-53K program director: "The CH-53K fuselage is one of the most complex composite structures ever built by Spirit," said Chris Falo, Spirit's CH-53K program director. "Spirit's design and build expertise in large complex composite structures helps us deliver this product to our customer on time and with the highest quality possible."

Sikorsky was contracted by the U.S. Navy to deliver the four SDTA aircraft by 2017 for Marine Corps operational evaluation of the CH-53K platform, which is designed to carry 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under "high hot" ambient conditions, tripling the external load carrying capacity of the current CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.

The four SDTA helicopters are incorporated within the existing $3.5 billion System Development and Demonstration contract initially awarded to Sikorsky in April 2006.

"The CH-53K fuselage is one of the most complex composite structures ever built by Spirit," said Chris Falo, Spirit's CH-53K program director. "Spirit's design and build expertise in large complex composite structures helps us deliver this product to our customer on time and with the highest quality possible."

The Marine Corps intends to order 200 CH-53K production aircraft, including the four SDTA aircraft.