US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.com) a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract to build two CH-53K King Stallion helicopters.

Under the $304 million contract, Sikorsky will deliver the two production aircraft to the US Marine Corps in 2020, along with spares and logistical support. Assembly will take place at Sikorsky's headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut.

The CH-53K King Stallion provides three-times the lift capability of its predecessor, the CH-53E Super Stallion.

This improvement gives the Marine Corps tremendous mission flexibility and efficiency in delivering combat power in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force or in providing humanitarian assistance or disaster relief.

The King Stallion also introduces enhanced safety features, including ‘full authority’ fly-by-wire flight controls and mission management; these reduce pilot workload and allow the crew to focus on mission execution.

Other features include advanced stability augmentation, flight control modes such as attitude command-velocity hold, automated approach to stabilised hover, position hold and precision tasks in degraded visual environments, and
tactile cueing.