US NAVY CONTRACTS SIKORSKY TO BUILD 35 CH-53K HELICOPTERS

The US Navy has awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, a US$2.7 billion contract to build and deliver 35 additional CH-53K helicopters, the largest procurement to date for this multi-mission aircraft.

"This contract award for 35 CH-53K® helicopters stabilises Sikorsky's nationwide supply base, creates additional production efficiencies and provides the US Marine Corps with transformative 21st century technologies," said Paul Lemmo, President of Sikorsky. "Our long-standing partnership led to this best value contract award providing the capability and readiness the Marines need." The agreement includes 12 US Marine Corps Lot 7 aircraft, 15 US Marine Corps Lot 8 aircraft and eight aircraft for Israel. Sikorsky will begin delivering these aircraft in 2026. This contract significantly advances Sikorsky and the US Navy on the path toward a multi-year agreement and the 200 aircraft Marine Corps programme of record.

This contract award includes eight additional CH-53K helicopters for the Israeli Air Force and follows the initial production announcement in 2022 for the first four aircraft under a US Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement. The multi-mission CH-53K will support Israeli special operations programmes, as well as provide the Israeli Defence Forces with a platform that has the speed, safety, survivability and gross weight capability to support all of its missions, including troop and cargo transport and search and rescue. The US Navy declared full rate production for the CH-53K programme in December 2022. This is expected to increase production to more than 20 helicopters annually in the coming years. Sikorsky is procuring long-lead items and critical materials to support ramp up of CH-53K production in its digital factory.

Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter