Editor’s Note: This story first appeared on AVweb.com.
The U.S. Navy has ordered 35 additional CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters from Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky.
The contract, which is valued at approximately $2.7 billion, includes 27 aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps and eight for the Israeli Air Force. Deliveries of the newly ordered CH-53Ks are expected to begin in 2026.
“This contract award for 35 CH-53K helicopters stabilizes Sikorsky’s nationwide supply base, creates additional production efficiencies, and provides the U.S. Marine Corps with transformative 21st century technologies,” said Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo. “Our long-standing partnership led to this best value contract award providing the capability and readiness the Marines need.”
As previously reported by AVweb, the Navy authorized full-rate production of the CH-53K in December 2022 and is expected to acquire up to 200 King Stallion helicopters. According to Sikorsky, the Marines have logged over 1,000 operational flight hours in the model to date. The company noted that the CH-53K is capable of carrying a 27,000-pound external load over 110 nautical miles in high/hot conditions.
