The United States government has signed a contract with the American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin Group) for the purchase of 35 new CH-35K King Stallion amphibious helicopters. The value of the deal amounts to 2.7 billion dollars. The order includes 27 aircraft for the US Marine Corps and another 8 to be supplied to Israel. This is the largest order ever made for this version of a rotary-wing aircraft.

"The production of additional aircraft in the CH-53K helicopter program is a very significant achievement and is a major milestone in the program. It will help optimize the supply chain and accelerate the pace of helicopter production", said the Sikorsky president, Paul Lemmo .

The first deliveries to Israel, announced last year as part of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement, are expected in 2026, although the aircraft will not be operational until Tel Aviv has installed its own technological systems on board. The CH-53K will gradually replace the fleet of CH-53D rotary-wing aircraft, that is the previous version of the same helicopter.