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American defence company Sikorsky has secured a US$10.855 billion contract from the US Navy to build up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters for the US Marine Corps over five years.
Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, was awarded the contract for deliveries of the heavy-lift helicopters between 2029 and 2034. The contract is the largest quantity order to date for the aircraft.
“This award reflects trust and confidence in Sikorsky to deliver these technologically advanced, heavy-lift helicopters that will revolutionise the Marine Corps’ operational capabilities by adding unrivalled power, performance, survivability and dependability to the fleet,” 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, optimise 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.”
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 267 CH-53K suppliers across 37 states, and 17 suppliers from eight countries.
The contract allows the US government to buy up to 99 CH-53K aircraft for the Marine Corps or to fulfil 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 Colonel Kate Fleeger, H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Office program manager.
“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.”
Currently, the US 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 US Marine Corps’ Program of Record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft.
