The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter, under the direction of H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261), achieved a major milestone by successfully lifting another CH-53K King Stallion. The test, performed by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 21 (HX-21), is part of the CH-53K aircraft recovery rigging evaluation and a critical step toward developing new operational capabilities and procedures for the CH-53K fleet.

A five-year, multi-year procurement (MYP) contract was signed on January 8 between the Department of War (DOW) and GE Aerospace for both new production and spare T-408 engines, along with associated sustainment services for the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter. The $1.4 billion contract covers five years, Lots 9-13, providing more than $174 million in savings over the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP).

October 27, 2015 the CH-53K King Stallion took to the skies for its first flight. Today, more than 10 years later, there are 20 CH-53Ks executing missions with four different Navy and Marine Corps squadrons.

A five-year, multi-year procurement (MYP) contract was signed Sept. 26 between the Department of Defense (DOD) and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, for a maximum of 99 CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopters. The contract, which at maximum quantity is valued at approximately $10.9 billion, will provide $1.5 billion in savings from 2025-2029.

The CH-53K program is critical to the Marine Corps’ strategic plan. It is replacing the CH-53E Super Stallion as the only marinized heavy-lift rotary-wing aircraft in the U.S. defense inventory.

A CH-53K heavy lift helicopter transported an inoperable F-35B Lightning II airframe from Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina on Aug. 27.

The King Stallion helicopter was flown by a Marine aircrew from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, MCAS New River, North Carolina. The F-35, known as BF-1, was the first F-35 to perform a vertical landing. It was without its mission and propulsion systems, outer wings, or additional equipment and will be used as a permanent static display at MCAS Beaufort.

Members of the Air Vehicle department from H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261) have coordinated with the Human Systems Engineering Department’s Aircraft Lighting and Transparency Lab (ALTL) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX)-21 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, and Sikorsky to find a replacement to a search light on the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter. This group effort is due to the current light becoming difficult to obtain through the manufacturer.

The Marine Corps Aviation Association, John Glenn Squadron (MCAA JGS) in Patuxent River recently recognized high school graduates in the Southern Maryland tri-county area who plan to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)-based degrees with merit-based scholarships.

For 2024-2025 school year, MCAA JGS scholarship Committee selected 12 exceptional high school seniors to receive scholarships who were chosen based on their outstanding academic achievements and consistent dedication to community service.

The Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) MCAA recognized five winners from the Program Executive Office, Air, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault, and Special Mission Programs (PEO (A)) for their achievements at its annual awards banquet April 17 at The White Rose, Callaway, Md.

The MCAA John Glenn Squadron holds a yearly recognition of top civilian and military performers within the Marine Corps acquisition community for the prior calendar year.

Guest of honor Brig. Gen. David Walsh, PEO (A), remarks touched on the great importance of the work being done in acquisition.

In a ceremony held at the Pentagon, six Program Executive Office, Air, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)) were recognized by the annual Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Awards committee.  

The newly named Sean J. Stackley Acquisition Excellence Awards recognizes teams and individuals across the Department of the Navy (DON) for quality work and service that contributes to the Navy and Marine Corps. 

A Test Readiness Review (TRR) and Joint Final Testing (JFT) were recently completed for the CH-53K Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) 1, resulting in the trainer being declared Ready for Training (RFT) on Aug. 16. The new mixed-reality static training device is the first of its kind to support both pilot and aircrew training on the CH-53K King Stallion.  

Veraxx Engineering Corporation developed the AATD prototype for the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Office (PMA-261).