Sikorsky has delivered two additional CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters to the U.S. Marine Corps after the aircraft successfully completed U.S. Navy and Marine Corps acceptance testing. Announced on January 28, 2026, the delivery represents continued progress in the Marine Corps’ effort to replace the aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet with a new-generation heavy-lift platform designed for modern expeditionary operations.
According to Lockheed Martin, the helicopters were transferred following a standard evaluation and handover process conducted by Navy and Marine Corps test authorities. The aircraft were produced at Sikorsky’s U.S. manufacturing facilities and form part of a broader production ramp-up as the CH-53K program transitions from early fleet introduction into sustained delivery. Each new delivery increment strengthens the operational availability of the King Stallion within Marine aviation units.
The latest handover falls under a long-term production contract awarded by the U.S. Navy in April 2023 on behalf of the Marine Corps. The multi-year agreement supports the service’s program of record for 200 CH-53K helicopters and was structured to stabilize production, reduce unit costs, and incorporate reliability and maintainability improvements identified during initial operational testing. U.S. defense budget documents indicate the contract is designed to mature the platform while sustaining the industrial base.
Designed as a clean-sheet heavy-lift helicopter, the CH-53K features a reinforced composite airframe, a wider cargo cabin, and a fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system. Powered by three GE T408-GE-400 engines, the aircraft can lift more than 27,000 pounds externally in hot-and-high conditions. For the Marine Corps, this capability is central to expeditionary warfare, enabling rapid movement of troops, vehicles, and supplies from amphibious ships and austere forward bases.
