The US Marine Corps has received two new CH-53K King Stallion heavy duty helicopters.
The aircraft was manufactured by Sikorsky, a unit of Lockheed Martin, and was delivered to the Marine Corps in the last quarter of 2022.
“Sikorsky employees use advanced technologies to produce the CH-53K helicopter, which enhances the capabilities and survivability of the US Marine Corps,” said Bill Falk, director of the Sikorsky CH-53K program. “With the CH-53K’s transformative technologies, more is possible for the Marine Corps and our allies to deter threats in the changing battlefield landscape.”
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The CH‑53K’s heavy lift capabilities exceed all other US Department of Defense rotary wing platforms and is the only heavy lift helicopter that will remain in production through 2032 and beyond.
The CH-53K is an intelligent aircraft developed according to the standards of the 21st century, which brings improved safety and survivability to the fighter. The CH-53K helicopter will provide decades of worldwide heavy lift and multi-mission service to the Marine Corps, Joint Forces and our allies.
The full-authority digital fly-by-wire flight control system (FCS) is one of the many impressive features that set the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter apart from any other heavy-lift aircraft. “Full authority” means that the FCS provides all aircraft movement – not just supplementing the pilot for stability.
The new heavy-lift helicopter can carry three times the weight of its predecessor at a whopping 27,000 pounds. With that kind of lift capacity, the CH-53K can carry up to four Humvees more than 100 miles.