Sikorsky CH-53K Helicopter - Lockheed Martin

CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Sikorsky | CH-53K Helicopter

CH-53K Helicopter

The Modern Solution for True Heavy Lift

CH-53K Helicopter

Key Advantages Air Refueling CH-53K Training A Cabin for All Missions News Built for the Modern Battlefield

To succeed on the modern battlefield, militaries need the organic mobility to move large amounts of cargo and troops faster and farther than ever before. Enter the CH-53K® King Stallion helicopter.

For the U.S. Marine Corps, CH-53K aircraft are critical land and sea-based logistics connectors. International militaries can operate these aircraft for long-range air assault, special operations, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue.

The combined power from each CH-53K aircraft’s three 7,500 shaft horsepower engines can lift three times the load of its CH-53E predecessor.

As a digital system, the new heavy lifter benefits from significant operational advancements in a task force — as a node in distributed sensor networks, how it is maintained and updated, and how it could work with unmanned systems. Think of autonomy-assisted flight, and proactive sustainment and repairs close to the battlefield.

A final word: CH-53K helicopters have full authority fly-by-wire flight controls. Pilots can easily delegate flight tasks to the aircraft for improved safety, or when their focus on mission management becomes a priority. Want to hold a precision hover in 40-knot (74 km) wind gusts? No other heavy lifter can do this complex maneuver.

Demonstrating Air Refueling Capabilities

The CH-53K King Stallion successfully completed an air-to-air refueling test with the help of a Lockheed Martin KC-130J aerial refueling tanker. In a flight lasting 4.5 hours over the Chesapeake Bay, the CH-53K repeatedly demonstrated its ability to capture and “plug” the drogue, withstanding turbulent air and the force on the refueling probe at increased closure rates. Learn More

New CH-53K Simulator Ready for Training

Lockheed Martin delivered the first CH-53K training device to the U.S. Navy on April 14, 2020. The Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) is a full-mission flight simulator that will allow flight crews to train on the full scope of Marine Corps heavy lift missions, including external lift operations, and executing degraded visual environment take-offs and landings.

The CFTD replicates the functionality, flight characteristics, mission profiles and unmatched capabilities of the CH-53K helicopter.

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A Cabin for All Heavy Lift Missions

With its external lift capabilities, and a wider cabin (30 cm/12 in), the CH-53K is the ideal choice for transporting more cargo or troops with fewer trips. The larger cabin is able to carry 463L pallets and High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) which offers flexible configurations for maximum mission effectiveness, and facilitates loading/unloading of cargo without reconfiguring and removing troop seating. Stay Informed: The Latest News on the CH-53K King Stallion ___ Sep 26, 2025 Press Release Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Receives Five-Year Contract to Build Up to 99 CH-53K® Heavy Lift Helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps Multi-year award will help stabilize U.S. industrial base, ensure consistent aircraft deliveries. Read More Jul 18, 2025 Third Party Article Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) Brings the King Stallion to the Force Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) at MCAS New River, North Carolina plays the foundational role in introducing the CH-53K King Stallion into Marine Corps operational service. Read More Jul 10, 2025 Third Party Article Carving a Path to a More Sustainable Ready Force: The Next Generation Heavy Lift Helicopter It may seem a strange candidate to blaze a path towards a more sustainable ready force or a “fight tonight” force but that is exactly the potential contribution of the CH-53K. Read More Additional Information ___ CH-53K Supplier Information CH-53K Updated Infographic CH-53K Brochure (English) Contacts ___

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Melissa Chadwick +1 (202) 740-5997 [email protected]

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