Navy Greenlights Full Rate Production for Sikorsky’s CH-53K Helicopter
The U.S. Navy has officially announced the commencement of full-scale production for the Sikorsky CH-53K® helicopter, a determination anticipated to boost production to over 20 helicopters each year in the near future. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin entity (NYSE: LMT), is securing long-lead components and essential materials to facilitate the manufacturing of full-scale production CH-53K helicopters at its advanced digital facility.
“Increasing the output of the most sophisticated helicopter globally empowers the U.S. Marine Corps to expand its CH-53K King Stallion fleet and enhance mission effectiveness,” stated Bill Falk, director of the Sikorsky CH-53K initiative. “This production approval reinforces Sikorsky’s domestic supply chain and highlights our lasting collaboration with the Marine Corps.”
Milestone Advantages More Than 200 CH-53K Vendors Across the Nation
This full-scale production determination instills confidence within an extensive network of over 200 CH-53K vendors distributed across 35 states. The Marine Corps’ commitment to the CH-53K will enable suppliers to procure in larger quantities, fostering efficiencies and reducing overall costs for the U.S. military and its international partners.
The Marine Corps’ approved acquisition target is set at 200 aircraft.
The U.S. Marine Corps affirmed Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the CH-53K helicopter in April 2022, confirming the platform’s operational readiness for the rapid deployment of Marines and equipment worldwide.
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The CH-53K is a multi-role helicopter featuring heavy-lift capabilities that surpass all other rotary-wing aircraft utilized by the U.S. Department of Defense and is the sole heavy-lift helicopter projected to remain in production through 2032 and beyond. The CH-53K can transport a 27,000-pound external payload over 110 nautical miles in high/hot environments, exceeding the external load capacity of the older CH-53E model by more than threefold.
The CH-53K King Stallion is engineered to perform expeditionary assault transport of armored vehicles, equipment, and personnel to support distributed operations far inland from a sea-based operational center, which is vital in the Indo-Pacific region. The CH-53K is a digitally designed, commercially available aircraft, capable of a wide array of missions including humanitarian assistance, firefighting, and search and rescue operations.
