Sikorsky continues to rack up orders for the CH-53K King Stallion, most recently with a $372 million contract to build four of the heavy lift helicopters for Israel.
The company, owned by Lockheed Martin, will build a total of 12 CH-53Ks for the Israeli Defense Forces under a foreign military sales agreement overseen by the U.S. Navy. Announced Feb. 15, the $372 million deal is for the first four low-rate, initial-production aircraft, programmatic and logistical support.
Israel’s deal comes on the heels of a $684 million contract, announced Jan. 31, to produce nine more aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps, which plans to buy up to 200 CH-53Ks. Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced Dec. 31 that it signed letter of agreement (LOA) with the U.S. government to purchase 12 King Stallion helicopters for up to $2 billion.
That LOA between the U.S. and Israel states first deliveries of the baseline aircraft are planned for 2025. The aircraft will be manufactured at Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut.
The CH-53K helicopters will replace the Israeli Air Force (IAF) fleet of modified CH-53D Yasur helicopters, which have been in Israel’s inventory for over 50 years.
“We are building on decades of experience and partnership in supporting the CH-53E for the Marine Corps and the CH-53D for the IAF,” said Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo. “Sikorsky has a deep understanding of the worldwide heavy lift mission enabling our team and proven supply chain to offer tailored solutions resulting in more efficient missions. We are committed to provide training and sustainment support to ensure a smooth entry into service for the IAF.”
The U.S. State Department in July approved the sale of up to 18 Ch-53Ks to Israel for $3.4 billion. That approval also included 60 General Electric T408-GE-400 engines — each King Stallion is powered by three, as opposed to the two in legacy CH-53D helicopters, on which the Yasur is based — navigation and communications equipment, weapons and associated gear and contractor services.
The CH-53K beat out Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook in February, when Defense Minister Benny Gantz selected the single-main-rotor 53K over the tandem rotor Chinook based on recommendations from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi and Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel.
