PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Naval Air Systems Command awarded GE Aerospace a $1.4 billion contract on Jan. 8, 2026, for T408 turboshaft engines supporting the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter program. The five-year multi-year procurement covers Lots 9-13, including new production engines, spares and sustainment services.
The firm-fixed-price agreement, valued at approximately $1.42 billion in some announcements, definitizes Lots 9 and 10 while adding scope for Lots 11-13, totaling 277 T408-GE-400 engines. Work occurs at GE Aerospace’s facility in Lynn, Massachusetts, with completion expected by September 2032. Fiscal 2025 and 2026 aircraft procurement funds obligated at award include $497.4 million initially, with none expiring at fiscal year-end. Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River serves as the contracting activity.
Each T408 delivers 7,500 shaft horsepower, 57 percent more than the predecessor T64, with improved fuel efficiency and maintainability. The CH-53K, powered by three T408 engines, provides three times the range and payload capacity of the CH-53E Super Stallion, enabling transport of heavy equipment, troops and supplies in challenging conditions.
Col. Kate Fleeger, program manager for the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261), described the multi-year procurement as a key commitment to the CH-53K. This multi-year procurement is a key indicator of the strong commitment to the CH-53K program, and the integral part that GE plays, Fleeger said. The contract allows GE to manage supply chain health through a stable, predictable demand signal, ultimately achieving better pricing, passing those savings on to the government.
Fleeger added that long-term contracts reduce cost and strengthen the defense industrial base. By committing to long-term contracts, we are simultaneously reducing cost and helping to strengthen our defense industrial base, she said. Ultimately, this multi-year procurement will significantly reduce risk to the CH-53K transition plan.
Multi-year procurement, authorized by Congress under specific criteria, replaces annual contracts for savings. This mechanism provides stability to partners like GE Aerospace, encouraging investment in personnel and equipment for uninterrupted production while reducing administrative burdens.
The CH-53K replaces the CH-53E as the sole marinized heavy-lift rotary-wing aircraft in the U.S. defense inventory. Currently, 23 CH-53K aircraft operate with the Marine Corps, achieved Initial Operating Capability in April 2022. The program targets first Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment in fiscal year 2027.
PMA-261 oversees cradle-to-grave management of the H-53 family, including procurement, development, support, fielding and disposal.
Southern Maryland benefits from the CH-53K program’s presence at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, home to NAVAIR and PMA-261. The base employs thousands in engineering, testing and support roles, contributing billions to the regional economy through contracts and spending. Testing and evaluation at Pax River’s facilities advance the platform, reinforcing the area’s aerospace hub status. Prior CH-53K contracts, including a September 2025 multi-year deal with Sikorsky for up to 99 helicopters valued at $10.9 billion, highlight ongoing activity. Local businesses in St. Mary’s County, including those in Lexington Park and California, gain from federal and contractor expenditures tied to these programs.
Scott Snyder, heavy lift engines program director at GE Aerospace, emphasized the engine’s performance. This latest contract is a testament to the T408’s ability to deliver the power, durability and efficiency the Marine Corps depends on, Snyder said. We are honored to support the CH-53K and the critical mission it performs for Marines, joint forces and allies around the globe.
The award follows earlier agreements, such as a $684 million block-buy for Lots 6-8 in April 2023, supporting full-rate production ramp-up.