CH-53K (Heavy Lift)

The CH-53K (Heavy Lift) program aims to address the operational concerns and performance degradation of the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, which is the Marine Corps' only heavy-lift helicopter. The specific objectives include the procurement of long-lead materials and aircraft components with extended production lead-time to support the Marine Aviation Plan and Marine Air-Ground Task Force CH-53E replacement schedule. This includes the acquisition of various airframe components, forgings, castings, raw materials, communication, navigation, and survivability components. The program also focuses on improving range and payload, performance, cargo handling, turn-around times, reliability, maintainability, interoperability, and survivability of the CH-53K King Stallion to meet heavy-lift requirements in the 21st-century joint environment.

The CH-53K (Heavy Lift) program is designed to provide expeditionary heavy-lift assault transport of armored vehicles, equipment, and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations. It aims to replace the CH-53E Super Stallion with a more advanced and capable heavy-lift platform that can lift the Marine Air-Ground Task Force ashore. The program's goals include addressing performance degradation, fatigue life, interoperability, maintenance supportability, and other operational concerns associated with the CH-53E. Additionally, it seeks to achieve significant improvements in range and payload capacity, as well as enhancements in cargo handling, turn-around times, reliability, maintainability, interoperability, and survivability. The program received Milestone C decision for System Development and Demonstration in 2017 and approval for Full Rate Production in 2022. The budget allocation for FY 2024 includes funding for long-lead materials essential for establishing and maintaining a production schedule in support of the Marine Aviation Plan and Marine Air-Ground Task Force CH-53E replacement schedule.