The Heavy Lift Helicopter and Its Importance to Marine Corps Concepts of Operations
In the Deputy Commandant for Aviation’s January 2025 Aviation plan, the role of the heavy lift helicopter was highlighted as follows:
The CH-53K King Stallion offers three times the range and payload capacity of the CH-53E Super Stallion. It can transport heavy equipment, troops, and supplies over long distances, ensuring forces remain agile and supported.
Operating from both land and sea bases, including austere sites and amphibious shipping, it provides essential flexibility. The CH-53K handles both internal and external cargo loads, maintaining performance in degraded environments.
This versatility allows it to execute complex missions like combat assault transport, casualty evacuation, and logistical resupply and maintaining the MAGTF’s operational tempo and effectiveness.
Sustaining the legacy CH-53E while transitioning to the upgraded CH-53Ks capability enables heav lift in any clime and place ensuring the MAGTF’s operational success.
The report then outlines the transition strategy as follows:
The Marine Corps will procure a total of 200 CH-53Ks to equip the fleet of:
- 6 active squadrons x 16 CH-53K
- 1 reserve squadron x 16 CH-53K
- 1 fleet replacement squadron x 17 CH-53K
- 1 operational test detachment x 2 CH-53K
- 1 developmental test detachment x 2 CH-53K
Of note, the 200 aircraft program of record accounts for backup and attrition but is 20 aircraft short of the 220-requirement due to fiscal restraints.
The Marine Corps began the CH-53K transition in FY22. The first Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) completed its transition in approximately 24 months, and subsequent squadrons are expected to transition within 18-24 months each.
We are updating the initial force structure laydown for CH- 53K stakeholders to ensure complete developmental and operational testing as well as officer and enlisted student training. To that end, Marine Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) and Helicopter Experimental Squadron 21 (HX- 21) will have the necessary force structure to achieve the assigned tasks while building the inventory to staff Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 and the transitioning fleet squadrons.
The way ahead was highlighted as follows:
Deploying the CH-53K is an operational decision supported by three key efforts from the HQMC enterprise: Aircraft Inventory, Sustainment (Spares and Repairs), and Aircraft Capability.
By FY26, these three pillars are projected to reach a threshold that supports both deployed and home-guard CH-53K operations. The first CH-53K MEU detachment is expected to CHOP at that time, aiming for deployment in FY27.
The transition of Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MAFORPAC) Echo-to-Kilo will occur once all Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) fleet squadrons are equipped with Transition Plan PAA and when the delivery schedule can sustain consecutive transitions, likely at a rate of approximately 12 aircraft per year, validated in future Transition Task Forces.
Given the enduring nature of MARFORPAC’s GFM requirements, it is crucial that the transition to the CH- 53K minimizes any impact on these needs. The planned deployment order for CH-53K within MARFORPAC will be:
- SOCAL MEUs (11th, 13th, 15th)
- 31st MEU/Unit Deployment Program (UDP)
The transition from CH-53E to CH-53K will align with the return from UDP to ensure maximum HMH capacity is maintained with minimal impact on the deploy-to-dwell
The legacy fleet will receive some upgrades in the process of transitioning to a new CH-53K and those priorities were identified as follows:
CH-53E Funding Priorities
- Sustain and maintain CH-53E until full operational capability (FOC) of CH-53K
- Emerging CH-53E safety concerns
- Digital interoperability integration
- Upgraded Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE)
- Degraded Visual Environment (DVE)
- Engine reliability and performance
CH-53K Funding Priorities
- Program supply chain and spares availability/CH-53K procurement
- Funding in support of developmental and operational test
- Funding in support of sustainment activities
- Warfighting capability and envelope expansion
What is not fully highlighted in the report is the significance of the CH-53K being a digital aircraft and how it is produced affecting its ability to be sustained in a way which can meet the sustainment objectives indicated in the report.
Those objectives were highlighted later in the report for the Marine Corps as follows:
Our Marine Aviation Sustainment Plan aims to enhance overall readiness. The plan focuses on three key areas:
- Demand-based sustainment: Implement a bottom-up approach to sustainment that responds to squadron, group, and wing needs.
- Distributed operational effectiveness: Pursue sustainment solutions that enable effective distributed aviation operations.
- Optimize sustainment efforts: Reduce variability in aircraft and equipment readiness by optimizing current sustainment efforts.
The Marine Aviation Sustainment Plan is crucial for enhancing overall readiness and enabling Marine Aviation to support the MAGTF.
As I will argue in follow on articles, one advantage built in to the CH-53K is not only its ability to enhance the MAGTF to become a more sustainable deployable force, but itself as a digitial aircraft can meet the sustainment goals indicated in the aviation plan in unique or advanced ways compared to legacy aircraft.
Featured photo: U.S. Marines with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) test the capabilities of the CH-53K King Stallion on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 16, 2021. Personnel with VMX-1 conducted surge flight operations to test the external lift capability of the CH-53K in support of amphibious operations. It can externally transport 27,000 lbs. over 110 nautical miles and has a max external lift of 36,000 lbs., three times that of the legacy “E” aircraft. The CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter currently being produced and tested to replace the CH-53E Super Stallion. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel Lyden)