![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6686426.jpg.jpg\")
Once the Marine Corps declares IOC in the coming months, the next focus will be working with Sikorsky to formally move into full-rate production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re actually very well on our way to that full-rate production decision, and I expect the team to have completed all those requirements and be able to execute that in fiscal year \u201823,\u201d the colonel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Full operational capability would come in 2029, when enough helicopters have been delivered to support four 16-aircraft squadrons on the West Coast, a larger 20-helo squadron on the East Coast, and the fleet replacement squadron that trains new pilots fresh out of flight school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until then, the legacy CH-53E Super Stallion and the Navy\u2019s MH-53E Sea Dragon will have to maintain their readiness to keep fulfilling the heavy lift mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perrin told Defense News during the discussion the legacy aircraft are expected to continue meeting their mission requirements through the end of their planned service life, when they\u2019d be replaced by new King Stallions coming off Sikorsky\u2019s Connecticut production line. The Marines and Sikorsky are \u201con plan and on course to have a smooth transition of heavy lift from the 53E to the 53K.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do not see any major risk associated with that at this time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Falk said during the discussion the first two helicopters have been delivered \u2014 one in October and one last month \u2014 and seven are in or nearing final assembly. A total of 46 are on contract now, including 42 for the Marines and four for Israel, and 14 more are on contract for long lead time materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four helos will arrive in 2022, Falk said, with eight planned for 2023 and then 16 a year slated for 2024 and beyond once the company goes into full-rate production. The Marine Corps\u2019 program of record is 200 helicopters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Falk told Defense News Sikorsky will have to set up three parallel production lines to meet the Marines\u2019 needs, but the third line will not be at full capacity. As a result, the company will be seeking additional foreign sales to fill out this line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israel has four in production and four more on contract for long lead materials, with the potential to increase their buy. Germany has decided to pursue its heavy lift helicopter replacement program through a foreign military sale and is in touch with U.S. State and Defense department offices about the CH-53K program as a potential solution, Perrin said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The CH-53K is through all its required testing scenarios and is working through ticking off the final boxes before the Marine Corps can declare it operational.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":114727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":16,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"6":{"categories":["your-marine-corps","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-marine-corps"}}},"categories":[160,29,16,93,36],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3354],"class_list":["post-55403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-digital-show-dailies","category-naval","category-navy-league","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"EMSJOZXXVZEWLCWMRJFXZJX2II","arc_canonical_url":"\/naval\/2022\/04\/06\/marine-corps-nearing-initial-operational-capability-for-ch-53k-heavy-lift-helicopter\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n