Nine Aircraft Now Operational – Production Ramping Up

Sikorsky delivered two further CH-53K helicopters to the US Marine Corps in December, bringing the number delivered to the service to date to nine.

The US Navy declared full-rate production for the programme in December, and the company expects to be producing 20+ aircraft annually going forward, while current expanded production includes 12 aircraft for Israel. The aircraft is the only heavy-lift helicopter scheduled to remain in production through 2032 and beyond. “{We] are using advanced technologies to manufacture the CH-53K helicopter, which increases capabilities and survivability to the US Marine Corps,” explained Bill Falk, Director CH-53K Program for the company. “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.”

For a video highlighting some of the helicopter’s operational perspectives, click here; a second video provides an interview with USMC pilots and can be viewed here.