USMC’s New CH-53K King Stallion Helicopter is Really, Really Expensive

By Tactical-Life

We’ve all seen the news reports about the spiraling costs associated with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Well, the Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion has found itself in the crosshairs for the exact same reason, as Sikorsky‘s new heavy-lift helicopter will likely exceed the per unit cost of the F-35A.

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According to DOD Buzz, the CH-53K King Stallion, which will replace the CH-53E Super Stallion first introduced back in 1981, started off with an estimated baseline price of around $95 million per unit. But, when speaking before a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing, Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Mass. said that price had increased by around 14 percent, and the Corps had provided information to House lawmakers which confirmed that the per unit cost of the CH-53K was now expected to balloon 22 percent to a whopping $122 million.

“The Marine Corps intends to buy 200 of these aircraft, so that cost growth multiplied times 200 is a heck of a lot of money,” Tsongas said during the hearing. “And even if there is no additional cost growth, it seems worth pointing out that $122 million per aircraft in 2006 …Read the Rest

Source:: Tactical Life