A contract to build six CH-53K King Stallion helicopters was signed this week between the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company.

The Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 4 contract, which was signed October 26, is for just over $550 million. The contract delivers the six aircraft in early 2024 as part of a 200-aircraft program of record for the U.S. Marine Corps. This contract award also includes funding for programmatic and engineering support and rate tooling.

Four CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft recently completed an extensive maintenance process, known as RESET, allowing for additional aircraft to return to the fleet.

RESET is a period of dedicated maintenance that re-baselines all squadron-level inspections; replaces high-time components; and delivers a leak-free, Full Mission Capable (FMC) aircraft with zero awaiting-maintenance discrepancies back to the warfighter.

The H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters program office (PMA-261) took delivery of the first training device for the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter on April 14, 2020.  The Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) is housed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, Jacksonville, NC.

The CH-53K King Stallion aced an air-to-air refueling test this week, successfully demonstrating long-range logistics support capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps. The 4.5 hour test was accomplished over the Chesapeake Bay with a KC-130J aerial refueling (AR) tanker.

“The aircraft went to the tanker this week and it was very successful, proving it is a long-range vertical logistic workhorse,” said Col. Jack Perrin, H-53 heavy lift helicopters (PMA-261) program manager.

Maj. Clayton Wade Piersall, training lead for the Marine Corps’ CH-53K program, earned Admiral Merlin O’Neill Officer of the Year during a ceremony in January at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

NAS Patuxent River and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division leadership give the annual Adm. Merlin O’Neill Officer of the Year award to a junior officer assigned to activities onboard NAS Patuxent River who demonstrates superior performance and leadership, with an emphasis on volunteer activities and involvement in the community.

Industry and government engineers have mitigated an ongoing engine integration issue for the CH-53K King Stallion – the new heavy-lift helicopter from Sikorsky for the United States Marine Corps.  

This “tiger team” of experts from a variety of engineering backgrounds came together to find and optimize aircraft modifications using state-of-the-art computational modeling methodologies, risk management, flight test data and Systems Engineering tools.