The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (Navair) awarded Lockheed Martin a $304 million contract modification for the first production lot of two CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters. Plans call for subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft to deliver the first two production helicopters to the Marine Corps in 2020.
Sikorsky is already building six developmental helicopters, which will count toward the Marines’ program of record of 200 CH-53Ks. On April 4, the Pentagon’s Defense Acquisition Board granted the program Milestone C approval to move to the low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase. The Department of Defense announced the contract modification for LRIP Lot 1 on August 31.
“We have just successfully launched the production of the most powerful helicopter our nation has ever designed,” said Marine Col. Hank Vanderborght, program manager with Navair’s heavy-lift helicopters program office. “I could not be prouder of our government-contractor team for making this happen.”
Powered by three 7,500 shp-class GE Aviation T408-GE-400 engines, the King Stallion will provide three times the lift capability of its predecessor, the CH-53E Super Stallion. Also, the cabin of the CH-53K is a foot wider, offering increased payload capacity.
The Marine Corps plans to establish eight active-duty CH-53K squadrons, one training squadron and one reserve squadron, according to Lockheed Martin.