GKN Aerospace has been awarded a System Design & Development (SDD) contract for the Fuselage Aft Transition for the US Marine Corps' next generation Heavy Lift aircraft, the Sikorsky CH-53K. The Aft-Cabin Transition section includes the cargo ramp and overhead door. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

During SDD, GKN Aerospace is contracted to deliver 7 development ship sets to Sikorsky between 2009 and 2012. Design, development and production work on these contracts will be carried out at GKN Aerospace's St Louis, Missouri facility, and the Engineering Design Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Full production of 156 ship sets is anticipated to commence in 2013 and continue through 2022.

GKN Aerospace will use the latest design and manufacturing technologies to incorporate a number of high performance emerging materials and advanced manufacturing methods, including automated fibre placement (ATP), automated trim and drill and digital inspection, all aimed at achieving CH-53K program weight, durability and affordability objectives.

Jay Fitzsimmons, President and CEO of GKN Aerospace, Aerostructures, North America comments: "GKN Aerospace is very proud to be a part of the CH-53K Team. We look forward to working closely with Sikorsky on the advanced CH-53K helicopter which will utilize GKN Aerospace's engineering design capabilities and core composite technologies to advance the aircraft performance. The CH-53K is at the epicentre of our rotorcraft strategy".

This latest contract win exploits well established advanced material design and manufacturing expertise that GKN Aerospace has applied on a wide range of aircraft programs worldwide.