Sikorsky Awarded $10.8B King Stallion Contract

Stratford-based Sikorsky announced a $10.8 billion U.S. Navy contract Sept. 26 to build as many as 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over five years.

Company officials said it was the largest-quantity order to date for the aircraft and will ensure consistent deliveries of the country’s most powerful heavy-lift helicopter between 2029 and 2034.

The contract also reinforces the U.S. industrial base, sustaining thousands of production roles at Sikorsky and its nationwide CH-53K supply chain, including more than 40 companies in Connecticut.

“This award reflects trust and confidence in Sikorsky to deliver these technologically advanced, heavy-lift helicopters that will revolutionize the Marine Corps’ operational capabilities by adding unrivaled power, performance, survivability and dependability to the fleet,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager.

“The multi-year contract enables Sikorsky to partner with the Department of the Navy to drive long-term affordability, optimize production efficiencies, and stabilize our supply chain and workforce, ensuring the Marines maintain the strategic advantage with the CH-53K in a rapidly evolving battlespace.”  

Supply Chain Impact

The contract combines five separate aircraft orders into a five-year procurement, ensuring price predictability and consistent flow of materials from 267 CH-53K suppliers across 37 states.

The contract allows the U.S. Government to buy up to 99 CH-53K aircraft for the Marine Corps or to fulfill orders from international military customers.

“There aren’t a lot of places where you know you’ve got work for the next eight years—and not just for us, for our entire supplier base,” Benton told Hearst Connecticut Media.

“Then we’re going to sustain them like we have for Black Hawk for decades to come, so that that’s pretty exciting.”

There aren’t a lot of places where you know you’ve got work for the next eight years.”

Sikorsky’s Rich Benton

Sikorsky continues to build Black Hawks for the U.S. Army under a $376 million contract that runs through 2027.

The company has a second factory in Bridgeport where Black Hawk helicopter fuselages are assembled before transport to the Stratford plant.

Sikorsky has delivered 20 CH-53K aircraft to the Marine Corps. An additional 63 aircraft are in various stages of production and assembly.  

The Marine Corps has transitioned one CH-53K fleet squadron, and has CH-53K aircraft flying at one developmental test squadron, one operational test squadron, and one training squadron.