Aircraft · Air
CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter
Heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport troops, equipment, and supplies.
by Sikorsky
- Milestones0
- Operators—
- Components—
- Programs—
- Capabilities—
- Inputs—
Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Molly Hampton · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Marines) · Full-frame resize and WebP re-encoding from the DVIDS-hosted government photo; no crop.
Timeline
No milestones recorded for CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter yet. The timeline fills in as unveilings, tests, contracts and deliveries are sourced.
Cost to the Government
Helicopters · Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin
CH-53K King Stallion
Heavy-lift acquisition combines development aircraft, production helicopters and long-term support. New contract ceilings are not unit prices.
Acquisition / planned operational helicopter
$170.181M
2019-12 · Then-year USD
Derived: $34.0362B acquisition / 200 operational helicopters. Includes development and military construction. Not official APUC or a production-lot price.
GAO ↗Delivered to U.S. Marines
20
2025-09-26 · U.S. only
Manufacturer-reported cumulative deliveries, not mission-ready or present-day inventory.
Lockheed Martin ↗Development estimate
$8.098B
2019-12 · Then-year USD
Historical SAR estimate reported by GAO in 2021.
GAO ↗Operations & sustainment
Reimbursement / flight hour
$14,092 / hr
FY2026 · Nominal USD; other DoD component
Published reimbursement rate for use by another DoD component. This is a billing rate, not the fully burdened cost of ownership.
DoD Comptroller ↗Lifetime O&S estimate
$81.467B
2019-12 · Then-year USD
Program estimate through FY2061; not annual cost or an award.
GAO ↗Cost over time · 5 observations
Each row retains its original scope and dollar basis. Changing quantities, service life and inflation can change the estimate without changing the price of building one unit.
| Observation | Measure | Amount | Dollar basis | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-12 | Development estimate Initial operational quantity 156; later increased to 200. | $4.366B | Then-year USD | GAO ↗ |
| 2017-12 | Development estimate Production baseline. | $6.958B | Then-year USD | GAO ↗ |
| 2019-12 | Development estimate Changes reflect requirements, quantities, delays and nominal dollars. | $8.098B | Then-year USD | GAO ↗ |
| FY2025 | Reimbursement / flight hour Published reimbursement rate for use by another DoD component. This is a billing rate, not the fully burdened cost of ownership. | $23,516 / hr | Nominal USD; other DoD component | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2026 | Reimbursement / flight hour Published reimbursement rate for use by another DoD component. This is a billing rate, not the fully burdened cost of ownership. | $14,092 / hr | Nominal USD; other DoD component | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
Contracts & purchasing · 2 records
Award values, ceilings and purchase agreements have different meanings. These records are not added together as total spending.
2025-09-26 · Maximum multiyear contract
U.S. Navy / Marine Corps → Sikorsky
$10.855B · up to 99 units in scope
Up to 99 helicopters; Lots 9–13, deliveries planned 2029–2034. Ceiling is not money already spent; international orders may use the contract.
Lockheed Martin ↗2022-02-15 · Production award / signed LOA
Israel via U.S. Navy FMS → Sikorsky
Value not verified · 12 units in scope
Announcement covers first four of a 12-aircraft agreement; do not treat all 12 as delivered.
Lockheed Martin ↗
International buyers
Israel · 12 · Signed LOA · 2022-02-15
First four in the announced production action. Updated delivery status not verified.
Lockheed Martin ↗
Coverage & open research
- Updated acquisition and R&D estimates beyond the 2019 SAR remain to be reconciled.
Unit costs and contract unit prices for this system, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.