Initial Operational Capability Declared for U.S.M.C.’s CH-53K Helicopters

The U.S. Marine Corps today declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter.

The CH-53K was designed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company. The helicopter enables the U.S. Marine Corps and international militaries to move troops and equipment from ship to shore, and to higher altitude terrain.

The path to CH-53K IOC included collaboration on Initial Operational Testing & Evaluation among Sikorsky, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps to develop, test and validate the advanced capabilities of this 21st century aircraft.

The CH-54K program’s other accomplishments include day and night air-to-air refueling, air-to-air refueling with 27,000 lb. external load, sea trials with over 350 landings, live fire testing and evaluation, sustained operations simulating offload of a Marine Expeditionary Brigade, testing in degraded visual environment conditions at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona’s Yuma and delivery of first six aircraft to the Marine Corps.

The IOC declaration positions the Marine Corps for a full rate production decision in 2023. The Approved Acquisition Objective is 200 aircraft.

The CH-53K high-tech production line in Stratford, Connecticut, is active with seven aircraft in build, including three on schedule to deliver to the Marine Corps this year. There are 46 aircraft fully on contract including four heavy-lift helicopters for the government of Israel and another 14 aircraft on contract for long lead material. The helicopters for Israel are under a U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement.