Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Secures Landmark Five-Year Deal for Up To 99 CH-53K King Stallion Helicopters

Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky division has officially secured a monumental five-year contract, setting the stage for the production of up to 99 advanced CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters. This pivotal agreement underscores the continued demand for the King Stallion's unparalleled capabilities and solidifies Sikorsky's critical role in providing next-generation defense solutions.

This landmark contract represents a significant commitment to strengthening the heavy-lift capacity of the U.S.

Marine Corps, ensuring they are equipped with the most powerful and technologically advanced rotary-wing aircraft in the world. The CH-53K, often hailed as the 'King of the Rotorcraft,' is designed to be the Marine Corps' primary heavy-lift helicopter, capable of moving troops, vehicles, and equipment from ship to shore and across diverse operational environments with unprecedented efficiency.

The CH-53K King Stallion boasts a suite of cutting-edge features that set it apart.

Its fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system, composite airframe, and vastly improved payload capabilities—three times that of its predecessor, the CH-53E Super Stallion—allow it to carry 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles in hot-and-high conditions. This formidable power ensures critical supplies and personnel can be transported precisely when and where they are needed, enhancing expeditionary warfare capabilities and humanitarian aid missions alike.

For Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky, this multi-year contract provides crucial production stability and supports a high-skill workforce, reinforcing the company's commitment to innovation and manufacturing excellence.

It also paves the way for potential future international sales, as allied nations recognize the transformative operational advantages offered by the King Stallion.

The acquisition of up to 99 CH-53K aircraft will systematically replace the aging CH-53E fleet, modernizing the Marine Corps' aviation assets and ensuring long-term operational readiness.

This investment in the King Stallion program is a testament to its strategic importance, promising to deliver robust, reliable, and essential heavy-lift support for decades to come, enabling global reach and tactical superiority for the U.S. and its partners.