The US Navy and Sikorsky struck a contract for $10.8 billion to provide up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters to the Marine Corps by 2034.
Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky has won a $10.8 billion contract from the US Navy to build up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters for the US Marine Corps. The five-year deal is the biggest single purchase for the CH-53K program thus far.
Sikorsky said that the helicopters will be delivered between 2029 and 2034, which will keep the company's supply chain busy across the country. Sikorsky officials noted that the deal shows faith in the helicopter's power, performance, survivability, and dependability, and it also stabilises production and workforce levels.
So far, the Marine Corps has gotten 20 CH-53Ks, and 63 more are being made and put together.
The helicopters are already serving in an operational squadron as well as test and training units. The CH-53K is designed to transport troops, ammunition and heavy equipment safely in contested environments.
The Navy had authorised Full-Rate Production in December 2022, with an eventual programme goal of 200 aircraft. The latest multi-year buy is expected to cut costs by enabling bulk supplier orders, with savings to be returned to the government while maintaining predictable deliveries during the transition from the CH-53E to the CH-53K.
