The newly delivered CH-53K heavy lift helicopters would join the seven already in operation at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, U.S.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has successfully delivered two CH-53K helicopters to the U.S. Marine Corps in the final quarter of 2022. The newly delivered CH-53K heavy lift helicopters would join the seven already in operation at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, U.S. The CH‑53K helicopter’s heavy-lift capabilities exceed all other U.S. Department of Defense rotary wing platforms and are the only heavy-lift helicopter that will remain in production through 2032 and beyond.
Sikorsky is on track to deliver more multi-mission King Stallion helicopters to the U.S. Marine Corps in 2023. The U.S. Navy declared Full Rate Production for the CH-53K program in December 2022. The decision is expected to increase production to more than 20 helicopters annually in the coming years.
The expanded production includes twelve (12) aircraft in various stages of production for the government of Israel. Sikorsky is procuring long-lead items and critical materials to support ramping CH-53K production to full-rate production in its digital factory.
“Sikorsky’s employees are using advanced technologies to manufacture the CH-53K helicopter, which increases capabilities and survivability to the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Bill Falk, director, Sikorsky CH-53K program. “With the CH-53K’s transformative technologies, more is possible for the Marine Corps and our allies when deterring threats in the changing battlefield landscape,” he further added.
The CH-53K is an intelligent aircraft developed to 21st-century standards, bringing improved safety and survivability to the warfighter. The CH-53K helicopter will provide many decades of worldwide heavy lift and multi-mission service to the Marine Corps, the Joint Force and our Allies.
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A full authority digital fly-by-wire Flight Control System (FCS) is one of many capabilities setting the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter apart from any other heavy lift aircraft. “Full authority” means the FCS provides all the aircraft motion – not just supplementing the pilot for stability.
