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USMC Orders CH-53K King Stallion: $10.9B Deal
Sikorsky has secured a major USMC contract to supply next-generation heavy-lift helicopters.
On September 29, 2025, Sikorsky — a Lockheed Martin company — announced it won a $10.9 billion multi-year contract from the US Marine Corps (USMC) to deliver CH-53K King Stallion helicopters. The contract covers procurement plus long-term support and sustainment for the heavy-lift rotorcraft that will phase out aging CH-53E Super Stallion airframes.
What the CH-53K deal means for USMC heavy lift
The CH-53K King Stallion is Sikorsky’s three-engine heavy-lift helicopter designed for external lift, amphibious operations and expeditionary missions. Under the award, deliveries are scheduled through the early 2030s, and the package includes spares, training and sustainment services to keep the fleet mission-ready.
For the Marine Corps, the CH-53K advances payload, range and reliability over the legacy CH-53E, translating to more cargo, longer missions, and improved integration with naval task forces. Sikorsky framed the contract as one of the largest recent U.S. military helicopter procurements, reinforcing its role in defense aviation.
- Contract value: $10.9 billion — covers procurement, support and sustainment for CH-53K.
Operationally, the CH-53K program supports amphibious assault, logistics lift and disaster response. The USMC will operate the type from shore bases and, where needed, from amphibious ships. Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin will run production and sustainment lines to meet the delivery schedule and service-life requirements.
The award also signals continued investment in heavy-lift rotorcraft as the Department of Defense modernizes its rotary-wing fleet. While the contract sets a long timeline to full delivery, it provides industrial stability for Sikorsky’s manufacturing and support workforce into the next decade.
