GE Aerospace Secures $1.4 Billion Contract to Support CH-53K Helicopter Engine Production
GE Aerospace has been awarded a $1.4 billion contract by the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to supply additional T408 turboshaft engines for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter program. This award covers Lots 9–13 of the T408 engine production, extending the company’s ongoing support for the advanced rotary-wing aircraft.
The multi-year agreement builds on previous contracts for the T408 engine and includes the delivery of new production engines, spare units and sustainment services. Final assembly of the engines will take place at GE Aerospace’s facility in Lynn, Massachusetts, with components sourced from a network of domestic and international sites.
Each T408 engine produces 7,500 shaft horsepower, providing approximately 57 percent more power than its predecessor, the GE Aerospace T64, while also delivering improved fuel efficiency and maintainability. Combined, three T408 engines enable the CH-53K to achieve significantly greater range and payload capability compared to earlier heavy lift models, supporting long-range assault, logistics and transport missions for Marine Corps operations.
The CH-53K achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the Marine Corps in April 2022, and remains a cornerstone of the service’s heavy-lift aviation capabilities. The latest contract reinforces GE Aerospace’s role in meeting the Marine Corps’ evolving aviation requirements and supplying critical propulsion technology to U.S. military forces.
