ADEX 2025: Sikorsky exits bidding for South Korea's heavy helicopter project

Sikorsky has described the CH-53K King Stallion as a good fit for the SOHH programme, citing the platform's digital architecture that can support future software and hardware updates. (USMC/Lance Cpl James Bricker)

Sikorsky has withdrawn its CH-53K King Stallion from the bidding for South Korea's Special Operations Heavy Helicopter (SOHH) programme after determining that the budget allocated by the South Korean government falls short of expected levels.

“After careful analysis, we have concluded that the current SOHH programme budget does not align with the investment required to field the CH-53K,” Sikorsky said in a statement to Janes on 24 October. Sikorsky's exit from the bidding appears to leave the Boeing CH-47F Chinook as the sole contender for the programme.

Speaking to Janes during the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 held from 17 to 24 October, Frank Crisafulli,Sikorsky's director of International and Commercial Strategy and Business Development, said that although the company spent three years shaping its offer, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration's (DAPA's) budget and evaluation criteria did not account for the level of investment required to acquire and operate the CH-53K.

DAPA approved the SOHH programme in April to acquire 18 heavy-lift helicopters. The budget allocated was KRW3.36 trillion (USD2.3 billion).

From Sikorsky's perspective, DAPA's budgetary allocations for the SOHH programme did not consider cost increases in recent years.

According to Crisafulli, DAPA's requirements for the SOHH programme were shaped before the emergence of a “black swan event” such as the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected supply chains and escalated costs. “In three years, everybody in the industry, [whether one is] making toothbrushes or aircraft, experienced a supply chain crisis, where there are 30%, 40%, [and] 50% increases in just raw materials,” he said.

Janes