Final assembly of the CH-53K. Source | Sikorsky Aircraft

On Sept. 26, Sikorsky Aircraft (Stratford, Conn., U.S.), a Lockheed Martin company, announced that it has 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 5 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.   

“The multiyear 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,” says Rich Benton, Sikorsky VP and general manager.

The contract combines five separate aircraft orders — defined as Lots 9-13 — into a 5-year multiyear procurement, ensuring price predictability and consistent flow of materials from 267 CH-53K suppliers across 37 states, and 17 suppliers from eight countries. The contract enables 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.   

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.   

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.