Defense & Military
GE Aerospace Secures $1.4B Navy Contract for CH-53K Helicopter Engines
GE Aerospace awarded $1.42B Navy contract to produce 277 T408 engines for CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, with production through 2032 in Massachusetts.
The U.S. Navy has awarded GE Aerospace a significant contract modification valued at approximately $1.42 billion to produce engines for the Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift Helicopters fleet. As reported by ClearanceJobs, this award solidifies the production pipeline for the T408 turboshaft engine, a critical component of the military’s most powerful helicopter program.
The deal, announced by the Department of Defense on January 8, 2026, represents a major commitment to the long-term stability of the CH-53K program. It covers the production of 277 T408-GE-400 engines, ensuring that the Marine Corps has the Propulsion systems necessary as the aircraft prepares for its first operational deployment later this year.
According to official contract data released by the Pentagon, the work will be performed exclusively at GE Aerospace’s facility in Lynn, Massachusetts, with completion expected by September 2032. This multi-year agreement underscores the strategic importance of the King Stallion in future expeditionary operations.
This modification (P00003) attaches to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N0001924C0019). It definitizes production for Lots 9 and 10 while adding scope for Lots 11, 12, and 13. In defense procurement, securing five consecutive production lots signals a move toward “Full-Rate Production,” moving the program past its initial low-rate Manufacturing phases.
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is the contracting activity. Funding for the award is substantial, with immediate obligations including:
With the CH-53K requiring three engines per airframe, the order of 277 engines supports the production of roughly 90 helicopters, accounting for necessary spares. This covers a significant portion of the Marine Corps’ total program of record, which aims for 200 aircraft to replace the aging CH-53E Super Stallion.
The T408-GE-400 engine represents a generational leap in rotorcraft propulsion technology. Designed specifically for the heavy-lift mission profile of the CH-53K, the engine offers dramatic improvements over the legacy T64 engine used in the Super Stallion.
According to GE Aerospace technical specifications, the T408 delivers 7,500 shaft horsepower per engine. This results in 57% more power than its predecessor. Furthermore, the engine is designed for the harsh marine environments where the Marine Corps operates, utilizing corrosion-resistant materials to withstand saltwater and sand. “The T408 offers 18% better specific fuel consumption… and is constructed with 63% fewer parts.”
, GE Aerospace Program Data
These efficiency gains allow the CH-53K to carry an external load of 36,000 pounds, triple the capacity of the CH-53E in high-altitude and hot-temperature conditions, while extending the aircraft’s mission radius.
This contract award arrives at a pivotal moment for both the U.S. Marine Corps and GE Aerospace. For the Marine Corps, the timing is critical. With the first fleet deployment of the CH-53K delayed to 2026, securing a stable engine supply chain through 2032 mitigates the risk of future logistical bottlenecks. The “block buy” nature of Lots 9 through 13 suggests the Navy is confident in the platform’s maturity and is locking in pricing and production slots before inflation or supply chain constraints can impact costs further.
For GE Aerospace, this $1.4 billion award reinforces its standing as a standalone defense prime following its 2024 spin-off from General Electric. The company has invested nearly $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing sites, including the Lynn, Massachusetts facility. This contract guarantees a decade of workload for the Lynn workforce, a historic hub for jet engine manufacturing, and validates the company’s Strategy of balancing commercial engine demand with steady defense sustainment contracts.
The CH-53K King Stallion achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in April 2022 and was approved for Full-Rate Production in December 2022. While the program has faced schedule adjustments, including the shift of its first deployment to 2026, the aircraft is on track to reach Full Operational Capability (FOC) by 2029.
As reported by ClearanceJobs, the contract modification ensures that as the airframes roll off the assembly line, the propulsion systems will be ready to meet them. The T408 engines are integral to the Marine Corps’ “Force Design 2030” strategy, which emphasizes dispersed operations and heavy logistics support in contested maritime environments.
What is the value of the contract? Where will the engines be built? When is the work expected to be finished? How many engines are included? Sources: ClearanceJobs, Department of Defense, GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace Secures $1.4 Billion Navy Contracts for CH-53K Engines
Contract Breakdown and Scope
Powering the King Stallion: The T408 Engine
AirPro News Analysis
Program Timeline and Future Operations
Frequently Asked Questions
The contract modification is valued at $1,421,446,110.
All work will be performed at GE Aerospace’s facility in Lynn, Massachusetts.
The contract specifies a completion date of September 2032.
The deal covers the production of 277 T408-GE-400 turboshaft engines.
Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin