U.S. Navy awards $10.8B contract for heavy-lift helicopters

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has received a $10.8 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to produce up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over the next five years.

The agreement, the largest-quantity order for the platform to date, will support deliveries between 2029 and 2034 and sustain thousands of jobs across Sikorsky’s manufacturing base and its nationwide supplier network.

The heavy-lift helicopter is intended to transport troops, equipment, and supplies across contested environments while maintaining high levels of survivability and reliability.

“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,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. “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.”

The contract consolidates five separate procurement lots — Lots 9 through 13 — into a single five-year agreement. This structure is designed to provide cost stability and ensure a consistent supply chain.

According to Sikorsky, the deal will support material flow from 267 suppliers across 37 U.S. states and 17 suppliers in eight allied nations.

It also provides the U.S. government with flexibility to procure aircraft for the Marine Corps or potential foreign military sales customers, underscoring the helicopter’s export potential as allied militaries look to enhance their heavy-lift capabilities.

To date, Sikorsky has delivered 20 CH-53K helicopters to the Marine Corps, with another 63 aircraft from previous production lots currently in various stages of manufacturing and assembly.

“This contract represents a huge ‘win’ for the entire CH-53K team,” said Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Manager, H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Office (PMA-261). “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.”

The Marine Corps is in the process of replacing its aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet with the CH-53K, which offers improved lift capacity, advanced fly-by-wire flight controls, and enhanced survivability features suited for future conflicts. One CH-53K fleet squadron has already transitioned to the new platform, and additional aircraft are operating in developmental, operational, and training squadrons to meet ongoing mission requirements.

Sikorsky designed the CH-53K to transport personnel and heavy equipment across hostile territory and to operate effectively in austere conditions. With a maximum external lift capacity exceeding 36,000 pounds, the aircraft can carry vehicles, artillery, and other large payloads over long distances — a capability central to the Marine Corps’ expeditionary and distributed operations concepts.

The Department of the Navy declared Full Rate Production for the CH-53K program in December 2022, paving the way for accelerated deliveries and larger procurement batches. The Marine Corps’ Program of Record currently stands at 200 aircraft, a fleet size expected to support decades of global expeditionary operations.