The US Navy has awarded Sikorsky an approximately $10.9-billion contract to deliver up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters to the US Marine Corps.
The contract will ensure steady deliveries of the helicopters from 2029 to 2034, while sustaining thousands of production jobs at Sikorsky and across its nationwide supply chain.
It consolidates five separate aircraft orders — Lots 9 through 13 — into a multi-year procurement, ensuring price stability and a steady flow of materials from 267 CH-53K suppliers across 37 US states and 17 suppliers from eight other countries.
“The multi-year contract enables Sikorsky to partner with the Department of the Navy to drive long-term affordability, optimize production efficiencies and stabilize our supply chain and workforce, ensuring the Marines maintain the strategic advantage with the CH-53K in a rapidly evolving battlespace,” Sikorsky vice president and general manager Rich Benton said.
CH-53K King Stallion
The new rotorcraft is designed to meet the US Marine Corps’ modern battlefield lift requirements, replacing the aging CH-53E Super Stallion in service since 1981.
It offers a lift capacity of 36,000 pounds (16,329 kilograms) — about three times that of its predecessor.
With an operating radius of 110 nautical miles (126 miles/203 kilometers) and mid-air refueling capability, the aircraft can operate over extended ranges.
The helicopter’s cabin is 30 centimeters (12 inches) wider than the CH-53E, allowing it to carry more cargo or troops in fewer trips, while its 170-knot (196-mile/315-kilometer per hour) cruise speed is 20 knots (23 miles/37 kilometers per hour) faster than the Super Stallion.
Two Hundred King Stallions for Marines
Full-rate production for the CH-53K program was declared in 2022, with the goal of inducting 200 helicopters.
To date, the US Marine Corps has transitioned one CH-53K fleet squadron and currently operates CH-53K aircraft in one developmental test squadron, one operational test squadron, and one training squadron to support operational requirements.
The aircraft is designed to transport troops, supplies, and heavy equipment across contested environments while ensuring survivability.
“This contract represents a huge ‘win’ for the entire CH-53K team,” Program Manager Col. Kate Fleeger of the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Office (PMA-261) said.
“The contract allows Sikorsky to bundle purchase orders from suppliers to achieve better pricing and pass the savings on to the government, giving us the ability to provide dependable delivery to the fleet and a consistent and predictable timeline for the transition from the CH-53E to the CH-53K.”
