The U.S. Navy issued a $10.85-billion contract to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for as many as 99 heavy-lift helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps, along with relevant aircraft and program support. The 10-year deal will cover five productions series (Lot 9 through 13) of the CH-53K “King Stallion”, the current model of Sikorsky’s long-running helicopter series.
It is the largest and heaviest helicopter in use by the U.S. military.
The USMC initially planned to acquire a total of 200 of the CH-53K helicopters when it authorized full-rate production in 2022 – with 20 aircraft delivered (Lots 1-3) and 63 more in production and assembly (Lots 4-8) by Sikorsky in Stratford, Conn. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, will manufacture the helicopters primarily at Stratford, and Wichita, Kan., with other activity at various other locations in the U.S., Canada, and U.K.
Each helicopter incorporates three GE Aerospace T408 turboshaft engines.
As detailed by Sikorsky, the new deal is structured as five two-year procurement efforts (Lots 9-13), intended to achieve price predictability and consistent material flow from more than 250 suppliers in dozens of states and eight countries.
The entire contract is due to run through February 2034.
"This award reflects trust and confidence in Sikorsky to deliver these technologically advanced, heavy-lift helicopters that will revolutionize the Marine Corps' operational capabilities by adding unrivaled power, performance, survivability and dependability to the fleet," stated Sikorsky v.p. and general manager Rich Benton. "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."
