A Strategic Investment in Marine Corps Heavy-Lift Capabilities
By Robbin Laird
On September 26, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, signed one of the largest helicopter procurement contracts in military history. The five-year, multi-year procurement (MYP) agreement, valued at up to $10.855 billion, authorizes the production and delivery of up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps between 2029 and 2034. This landmark deal represents far more than a simple aircraft purchase for it embodies a strategic commitment to modernizing America’s expeditionary forces while strengthening the defense industrial base for the next decade.
The contract structure itself demonstrates sophisticated defense acquisition planning….
