Lockheed Martin Sikorsky to build up to 99 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters for the US Marine Corps

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, received a $10.855 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to build up to a maximum of 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over five years, the largest-quantity order to date for the aircraft. The award will ensure consistent deliveries of the heavy-lift helicopter between 2029 and 2034 and reinforce the U.S. industrial base by sustaining thousands of production roles at Sikorsky and across its nationwide supply chain.

Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager, said, "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."

The contract combines five separate aircraft orders – defined as Lots 9-13 – into a five-year multi-year procurement, ensuring price predictability and consistent flow of materials from 26  CH-53K suppliers across 37 states, and 17 suppliers from eight countries. The contract allows the U.S. Government to buy up to 99 CH-53K aircraft for the Marine Corps or to fulfill orders from international military customers.  

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

"This contract represents a huge 'win' for the entire CH-53K team," said Col. Kate Fleeger, program manager, H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Office (PMA-261). "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."

To date, the U.S. Marine Corps has transitioned one CH-53K fleet squadron, and has CH-53K aircraft flying at one developmental test squadron, one operational test squadron, and one training squadron to support operational requirements.

Sikorsky designed the CH-53K helicopter to meet the Marine Corps' lift requirements to transport troops, supplies and heavy equipment forces across a contested environment.

The Department of the Navy declared 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.