Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Secures $10.855B U.S. Navy Contract for CH-53K Helicopters

Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky unit secured a $10.855 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to produce up to 99 CH-53K® King Stallion® helicopters for the Marine Corps. This five-year award represents the largest order for the aircraft to date and guarantees consistent deliveries from 2029 to 2034.

The contract aims to stabilize the U.S. industrial base by sustaining production roles at Sikorsky and its supply chain. Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president, emphasized that this award reflects confidence in Sikorsky's ability to deliver technologically advanced helicopters, enhancing operational capabilities for the Marine Corps.

This multi-year procurement combines five separate aircraft orders into a streamlined process to ensure price predictability and material flow from numerous suppliers. Sikorsky has already delivered 20 CH-53K helicopters, with 63 more in various stages of production.

Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Manager for the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program, noted that this contract enables strategic bundling of purchase orders to achieve better pricing while ensuring reliable delivery timelines as the transition from the CH-53E to the newer CH-53K begins.

The U.S. Marine Corps has transitioned one CH-53K fleet squadron and has aircraft operational in various test and training roles. The Department of the Navy declared Full Rate Production for the CH-53K program in December 2022, with a total Program of Record for 200 CH-53K aircraft.