Germany Requests Pricing For 41 CH-53K Choppers

The German government has requested pricing and availability to buy 41 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters from US.

“The Germans have started to communicate the need to replace the CH-53G in their heavy-lift program,” Mike Torok, Sikorsky’s CH-53K program vice president, said in a joint briefing with his Marine Corps counterpart, Col. Hank Vanderborght Monday.

Torok said there is “a requirements document that we understand has gone through the process right now” for the Germans. While it has not been officially released, they have made a formal request to the U.S. government.

Vanderborght said the request would cover the pricing and availability for 41 aircraft.
“We’re in the process of crafting an answer,” the colonel said.

Torok said there may be some movement on the request by next year. The Germans likely would start buying when the CH-53K reaches the peak of production around 2024.

“As we situate our company to be prepared to support the Marine Corps, we’re also certainly arranging it so we will be able to support the German aircraft as well,” he said.

The Marines will purchase 200 CH-53Ks. Torok said several other countries have expressed interest in the program.