Story ID: 405
Airbus Inks German CH-53 Support Contract
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: The deal will keep the Bundeswehr's Stallions flying through 2030.
Word Count: 119
Airbus Helicopters has received a contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support to retrofit 26 CH-53 heavy transport helicopters. The order will cover obsolescence management for components that are no longer available and will begin replacing them with modern parts.

“This order enables both the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and also our Donauwörth plant to plan ahead with certainty,” said Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of the company’s Germany division. “Airbus Helicopters has been the German specialist for maintaining, repairing and modernizing heavy transport helicopters for decades.”

The retrofit plan, which begins this year and continues through 2022, will guarantee service of the CH-53’s until at least 2030.