Sikorsky Receives Five-Year Marine Corps Contract

The US Marine Corps has signed a nearly $11 billion contract with Sikorsky for the delivery of up to 99 CH-53K King Stallions over the next five years, marking the highest quantity order for the helicopter to date. The service has already received 20 CH-53Ks and is awaiting 63 more on top of the new deal.

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

The contract brings five separate procurements, for Lots 9-13, into a single contract. The five-year delivery requirement aims to ensure price predictability for the government and steadier business for Sikorsky’s supply chain, which runs far and wide: 267 companies across 37 US states and 17 suppliers in eight countries. The program is also designed to support international sales if foreign militaries sign on, though the Marine Corps continues to top the customer charts as of now.

Sikorsky has already delivered 20 CH-53Ks to the Marines, while another 63 are in various stages of production from previous orders. One fleet squadron has transitioned to the new helicopter, and several others are flying it in developmental, operational, and training teams.

The CH-53K is intended to replace the aging CH-53E Super Stallion, which has been in service since the 1980s. The aging helicopters have proven increasingly expensive to maintain, putting the Marine Corps’ heavy-lift fleet under strain. Despite its relatively bumpy development history and high price tag, the new mode brings more power, fly-by-wire controls, and the ability to haul 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles, or roughly three times the lifting power of its predecessor.

"This contract represents a huge 'win' for the entire CH-53K team," said Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Manager of the 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."

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com