Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, has been awarded a $10.85bn contract from the US Navy to manufacture a fleet of CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The contract is set to be the largest order for the aircraft to date, encompassing up to 99 helicopters.
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The agreement spans five years and is structured to guarantee continuous deliveries of the heavy-lift helicopter from 2029 through 2034.
This commitment is also expected to bolster the US industrial base, preserving thousands of jobs at Sikorsky and its supply chain across the nation.
The contract consolidates five separate aircraft orders, known as Lots 9-13, into a single multi-year procurement plan.
This approach aims to provide cost certainty and maintain a steady supply of materials from the 267 CH-53K suppliers spread across 37 states in the US, as well as 17 suppliers from eight other countries.
Under this new arrangement, the US Government retains the option to purchase up to 99 CH-53K aircraft for Marine Corps use or to meet requests from international military clients.
Sikorsky vice president and general manager Rich Benton said: “The multi-year contract enables Sikorsky to partner with the Department of the Navy to drive long-term affordability, optimize production efficiencies and stabilise our supply chain and workforce, ensuring the Marines maintain the strategic advantage with the CH-53K in a rapidly evolving battlespace.”
To date, Sikorsky has delivered 20 CH-53K aircraft to the Marine Corps, with an additional 63 aircraft (Lots 4-8) currently in production or assembly phases.
The CH-53K fleet is gradually being integrated into the Marine Corps, with one squadron already transitioned and others in various stages of testing and training to support operational demands.
The Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter is powered by three General Electric T408 turboshaft engines, each offering a power output of 7,332shp and managed by a dual-redundant full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system.
The aircraft is designed to cut shipboard footprint and operating costs, as well as decreasing direct maintenance hours per flight hour compared to its predecessor.
The helicopter’s dimensions allow for substantial lift capabilities, with an ability to transport approximately 14t over a mission radius of 203km in marine conditions.
Its cabin can accommodate 34 passengers and 24 litters for medical evacuations.
In December 2022, the Department of the Navy gave the green light for full rate production of the CH-53K programme.
The USMC maintains its programme of record at a total of 200 CH-53K aircraft.
In July 2024, Sikorsky received a firm-fixed-price contract modification valued at up to $120.2m.
This modification extends the scope of a prior contract, authorising the procurement of additional long-lead time materials necessary for the production of 21 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters under Full Rate Production (FRP) Lot 9.
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