Sikorsky Secures $10.8B U.S. Navy Contract for Heavy-Lift Helicopters

• Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has been awarded a five-year contract worth up to $10.8 billion by the U.S. Navy.
• The agreement is for the production of a maximum of 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps.
• This is the largest single order for the CH-53K, combining five production lots to ensure stability and reduce costs.

Sikorsky has landed a massive $10.8 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to build a new fleet of CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, marking the largest-ever order for the powerful aircraft. The five-year agreement will supply the U.S. Marine Corps with up to 99 helicopters, securing a consistent production line and providing a significant upgrade to its heavy-lift capabilities for decades to come.

Modernizing Naval Aviation

The CH-53K is capable of carrying more than 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles, nearly three times the external load of its predecessor. The aircraft also integrates advanced fly-by-wire controls, improved survivability systems, and interoperability with joint and allied forces.

Navy officials said the new fleet will support expeditionary operations, including the transport of armored vehicles, troops, and critical supplies from ship to shore.

“This helicopter gives our Marines and sailors the lift capacity required to meet the challenges of modern battlefields and humanitarian missions alike,” a Navy procurement official stated.

Deliveries under this new contract are scheduled to run between 2029 and 2034.

The CH-53K King Stallion is the most powerful helicopter in the U.S. military, designed to transport troops, heavy equipment, and armored vehicles in contested environments. It is set to replace the Marine Corps’ aging fleet of CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, which have been in service for decades. The Department of the Navy declared Full Rate Production for the CH-53K in December 2022, and the Marine Corps’ total program of record stands at 200 aircraft.

“This 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,” said a Sikorsky official, emphasizing that the deal will ensure the Marines “maintain the strategic advantage with the CH-53K in a rapidly evolving battlespace.”