Sikorsky will build nine more CH-53K heavy lift helicopters under a new contract for the US Navy with the award also including an agreement for the next production contract at a lower unit price which will decrease further if quantity options are exercised.

The nine helicopters are part of a 200 aircraft programme of record for the US Marine Corps for a total of 33 production aircraft under contract, with three of the 33 already delivered to the US Marine Corps. Sikorsky will begin deliveries of the nine additional aircraft in 2024.

According to a Lockheed Martin release on June 25, Sikorsky and the US Navy also agreed to an even lower aircraft price for the next production contract of nine helicopters, to be exercised no later than February 2022. Lockheed Martin purchased Sikorsky for nearly US$9bn in November, 2015.

“Our aggressive focus on quality and affordability and strong government-industry partnership has successfully reduced the aircraft price. We look forward to expanding our digital-build and production and delivering this advanced heavy-lift aircraft as quickly as possible to the [US] Marine Corps, joint force, and our allies,” said Bill Falk, Sikorsky CH-53K programme director.

Since October 2020, Sikorsky has delivered three operational CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters to the US Marine Corps in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

The Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 has begun flying the CH-53K aircraft as they prepare for the next phase of assessment, known as Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. The US Marines will evaluate how the CH-53K helicopter performs in fleet operating conditions at sea, in sand and lifting external loads.

The CH-53K will support the US Marine Corps in its mission to conduct expeditionary heavy-lift assault transport of armoured vehicles, equipment and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based centre of operations, critical in the Indo-Pacific region, the Lockheed Martin release stated.