US Navy Makes Waves with Historic CH-53K Contract: 99 Mighty King Stallions on the Horizon!

Sikorsky, a division of Lockheed Martin, secured a $10.855 billion agreement from the U.S. Navy to manufacture up to a total of 99 CH-53K^® King Stallion^® helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over a five-year duration, marking the largest order for this aircraft to date. This allocation will guarantee steady deliveries of the United States’ most formidable heavy-lift helicopter between 2029 and 2034 and bolster the U.S. industrial sector by maintaining thousands of manufacturing positions at Sikorsky and throughout its national supply network.   

“This allocation signifies the trust placed in Sikorsky to provide these technologically sophisticated, heavy-lift helicopters that will transform the Marine Corps’ operational capabilities by contributing unmatched power, performance, survivability, and reliability to the fleet,” stated Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. “The multi-year contract allows Sikorsky to collaborate with the Department of the Navy to promote long-term cost-effectiveness, enhance production efficiencies, and stabilize our supply chain and workforce, guaranteeing the Marines retain the strategic edge with the CH-53K in a swiftly changing combat environment.”  

The agreement amalgamates five distinct aircraft orders — categorized as Lots 9-13 — into a five-year multi-year procurement, ensuring price consistency and a steady supply of materials from 267 CH-53K suppliers across 37 states and 17 suppliers from eight countries. This contract permits the U.S. Government to procure up to 99 CH-53K aircraft for the Marine Corps or to fulfill requests from international military clients.  

Sikorsky has provided 20 CH-53K aircraft to the Marine Corps. An additional 63 aircraft (Lots 4-8) are currently in various phases of production and assembly.  

“This contract signifies a significant ‘victory’ for the entire CH-53K team,” commented Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Manager, H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Office (PMA-261). “The contract allows Sikorsky to consolidate purchase orders from suppliers to secure better pricing and transfer the savings to the government, enabling us to offer reliable delivery to the fleet and a consistent and foreseeable timeline for the transition from the CH-53E to the CH-53K.”  

As of now, the U.S. Marine Corps has transitioned one CH-53K fleet squadron and has CH-53K aircraft operational at one developmental test squadron, one operational test squadron, and one training squadron to meet operational demands.  

Sikorsky engineered the CH-53K helicopter to satisfy the Marine Corps’ lift obligations for contemporary battlefields — to transport personnel, supplies, and heavy equipment forces across a contested landscape — and endure.    

The Department of the Navy announced Full Rate Production for the CH-53K program in December 2022. The U.S. Marine Corps’ Program of Record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft.