U.S. Marine Corps

Sikorsky Lands $2.7 Billion U.S. Navy Contract

The U.S. Navy has ordered 35 additional CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters from Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky. The contract, which is valued at approximately $2.7 billion, includes 27 aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps and eight for the Israeli air force. Deliveries of the newly ordered CH-53Ks are expected to begin in 2026. “This contract […]

Bell AH-1Z/UH-1Y Fleet Passes 500,000 Flight Hours

Bell Textron announced on Wednesday that the combined fleet of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom twin-engine attack and utility helicopters has logged more than 500,000 flight hours. Primarily operated by the U.S. Marine Corps, the models saw their first use in military operations in 2010. According to Bell, it has built nearly 400 AH-1Z and […]

Navy Approves Full Production Rate For CH-53K

Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has announced that the U.S. Navy has authorized full-rate production of the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter. According to the company, the approval will increase production to more than 20 helicopters a year. The model is expected to remain in production through at least 2032. “Ramping up production of the […]

Bell Delivers Last Viper To U.S. Marines

Bell Textron announced on Wednesday that it has handed over its 189th AH-1Z Viper twin-engine attack helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). In addition to completing the program of record (POR) for the model, the delivery is also the last for the USMC’s H-1 upgrade program, which was launched in 1996. Bell completed deliveries […]

U.S. Marine Corps To Get New CH-53K Simulator

Lockheed Martin will be providing the U.S. Marine Corps with a Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) for the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, the company announced on Wednesday. The device is part of a recent contract award, which also includes options for three additional CFTDs. According to Lockheed Martin, the deal follows the success of […]

Bell AH-1Z/UH-1Y Fleet Passes 400,000 Flight Hour Milestone

Bell Textron announced on Thursday that the fleet of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom attack and utility helicopters has passed the 400,000-flight-hour mark. The aircraft, which have been deployed for military operations since 2010, are the result of an upgrade program for H-1 helicopters launched by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1996. The Marine Corps […]

Marines Retire Super Cobra

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) officially retired its Bell AH-1W Super Cobra twin-engine attack helicopters last week after 34 years of service. The model completed its first flight on Nov. 16, 1983, and the USMC took delivery of its first AH-1W—initially called the AH-1T+—on March 27, 1986. The Super Cobra will be replaced by […]