diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 25d73b3ab20f2..53716f4061b2b 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ahash"
-version = "0.7.7"
+version = "0.7.8"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5a824f2aa7e75a0c98c5a504fceb80649e9c35265d44525b5f94de4771a395cd"
+checksum = "891477e0c6a8957309ee5c45a6368af3ae14bb510732d2684ffa19af310920f9"
 dependencies = [
  "getrandom 0.2.15",
  "once_cell",
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-sdk-sts",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -835,22 +835,26 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "aws-runtime"
-version = "1.0.3"
+version = "1.5.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "ce0953f7fc1c4428511345e28ea3e98c8b59c9e91eafae30bf76d71d70642693"
+checksum = "300a12520b4e6d08b73f77680f12c16e8ae43250d55100e0b2be46d78da16a48"
 dependencies = [
  "aws-credential-types",
- "aws-http",
  "aws-sigv4",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-eventstream",
  "aws-smithy-http",
+ "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
  "aws-types",
+ "bytes 1.9.0",
  "fastrand 2.1.1",
  "http 0.2.9",
+ "http-body 0.4.5",
+ "once_cell",
  "percent-encoding",
+ "pin-project-lite",
  "tracing 0.1.41",
  "uuid",
 ]
@@ -866,7 +870,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-query",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
@@ -880,16 +884,15 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "aws-sdk-cloudwatchlogs"
-version = "1.3.0"
+version = "1.62.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "67a5bcf460e098cf49292d216fe520b28a5d9c8dae10db0ff9a97bb2c95dd386"
+checksum = "2cbddf4d7c93d80b67ca47af16e37720fde7c62e8e69b371ff0977bd9d94ade1"
 dependencies = [
  "aws-credential-types",
- "aws-http",
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.61.1",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -897,7 +900,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "bytes 1.9.0",
  "fastrand 2.1.1",
  "http 0.2.9",
- "regex",
+ "once_cell",
+ "regex-lite",
  "tracing 0.1.41",
 ]
 
@@ -912,7 +916,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -934,7 +938,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -956,7 +960,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -981,7 +985,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-smithy-checksums",
  "aws-smithy-eventstream",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -1008,7 +1012,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -1031,7 +1035,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-query",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
@@ -1054,7 +1058,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -1076,7 +1080,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -1098,7 +1102,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
  "aws-smithy-types",
@@ -1120,7 +1124,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
- "aws-smithy-json",
+ "aws-smithy-json 0.60.7",
  "aws-smithy-query",
  "aws-smithy-runtime",
  "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
@@ -1134,9 +1138,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "aws-sigv4"
-version = "1.2.5"
+version = "1.2.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5619742a0d8f253be760bfbb8e8e8368c69e3587e4637af5754e488a611499b1"
+checksum = "7d3820e0c08d0737872ff3c7c1f21ebbb6693d832312d6152bf18ef50a5471c2"
 dependencies = [
  "aws-credential-types",
  "aws-smithy-eventstream",
@@ -1158,9 +1162,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "aws-smithy-async"
-version = "1.2.1"
+version = "1.2.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "62220bc6e97f946ddd51b5f1361f78996e704677afc518a4ff66b7a72ea1378c"
+checksum = "8aa8ff1492fd9fb99ae28e8467af0dbbb7c31512b16fabf1a0f10d7bb6ef78bb"
 dependencies = [
  "futures-util",
  "pin-project-lite",
@@ -1229,6 +1233,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "aws-smithy-types",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "aws-smithy-json"
+version = "0.61.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ee4e69cc50921eb913c6b662f8d909131bb3e6ad6cb6090d3a39b66fc5c52095"
+dependencies = [
+ "aws-smithy-types",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "aws-smithy-query"
 version = "0.60.7"
@@ -1241,9 +1254,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "aws-smithy-runtime"
-version = "1.7.4"
+version = "1.7.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "9f20685047ca9d6f17b994a07f629c813f08b5bce65523e47124879e60103d45"
+checksum = "431a10d0e07e09091284ef04453dae4069283aa108d209974d67e77ae1caa658"
 dependencies = [
  "aws-smithy-async",
  "aws-smithy-http",
@@ -1285,9 +1298,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "aws-smithy-types"
-version = "1.2.9"
+version = "1.2.10"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "4fbd94a32b3a7d55d3806fe27d98d3ad393050439dd05eb53ece36ec5e3d3510"
+checksum = "8ecbf4d5dfb169812e2b240a4350f15ad3c6b03a54074e5712818801615f2dc5"
 dependencies = [
  "base64-simd",
  "bytes 1.9.0",
@@ -2500,9 +2513,9 @@ checksum = "19d374276b40fb8bbdee95aef7c7fa6b5316ec764510eb64b8dd0e2ed0d7e7f5"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "crc32c"
-version = "0.6.4"
+version = "0.6.8"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "d8f48d60e5b4d2c53d5c2b1d8a58c849a70ae5e5509b08a48d047e3b65714a74"
+checksum = "3a47af21622d091a8f0fb295b88bc886ac74efcc613efc19f5d0b21de5c89e47"
 dependencies = [
  "rustc_version 0.4.1",
 ]
@@ -4077,7 +4090,7 @@ version = "0.12.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "8a9ee70c43aaf417c914396645a0fa852624801b24ebb7ae78fe8272889ac888"
 dependencies = [
- "ahash 0.7.7",
+ "ahash 0.7.8",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6378,7 +6391,7 @@ version = "0.7.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "af1844ef2428cc3e1cb900be36181049ef3d3193c63e43026cfe202983b27a56"
 dependencies = [
- "proc-macro-crate 1.3.1",
+ "proc-macro-crate 3.2.0",
  "proc-macro2 1.0.92",
  "quote 1.0.37",
  "syn 2.0.90",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d693da56644e9..0b7b22b59dd9e 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ aws-sdk-s3 = { version = "1.4.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavio
 aws-sdk-sqs = { version = "1.3.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
 aws-sdk-sns = { version = "1.3.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
 aws-sdk-cloudwatch = { version = "1.3.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
-aws-sdk-cloudwatchlogs = { version = "1.3.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
+aws-sdk-cloudwatchlogs = { version = "1.62.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
 aws-sdk-elasticsearch = { version = "1.3.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
 aws-sdk-firehose = { version = "1.3.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
 aws-sdk-kinesis = { version = "1.3.0", default-features = false, features = ["behavior-version-latest", "rt-tokio"], optional = true }
diff --git a/changelog.d/22008-specify-cloudwatch-log-class.enhancement.md b/changelog.d/22008-specify-cloudwatch-log-class.enhancement.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..af2c7789c2524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/22008-specify-cloudwatch-log-class.enhancement.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+The Cloudwatch Logs Sink now supports specifying the type of log class to create.
+
+authors: PriceHiller
diff --git a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/config.rs b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/config.rs
index d84076884a37e..a115f0f0a7ded 100644
--- a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/config.rs
+++ b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/config.rs
@@ -76,6 +76,30 @@ where
     }
 }
 
+/// Defines the log class to create
+///
+/// See https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatch/latest/logs/CloudWatch_Logs_Log_Classes.html
+#[configurable_component]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
+pub enum LogGroupClassDef {
+    /// Logs that require real-time monitoring or frequently accessed logs
+    #[default]
+    Standard,
+    /// Log class that can be used to cost-effectively consolidate logs
+    InfrequentAccess,
+}
+
+impl From<LogGroupClassDef> for aws_sdk_cloudwatchlogs::types::LogGroupClass {
+    fn from(value: LogGroupClassDef) -> Self {
+        match value {
+            LogGroupClassDef::Standard => aws_sdk_cloudwatchlogs::types::LogGroupClass::Standard,
+            LogGroupClassDef::InfrequentAccess => {
+                aws_sdk_cloudwatchlogs::types::LogGroupClass::InfrequentAccess
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Configuration for the `aws_cloudwatch_logs` sink.
 #[configurable_component(sink(
     "aws_cloudwatch_logs",
@@ -110,6 +134,7 @@ pub struct CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
     pub region: RegionOrEndpoint,
 
     /// Dynamically create a [log group][log_group] if it does not already exist.
+    /// This will create the log group with the group class specified by the `group_class` option.
     ///
     /// This ignores `create_missing_stream` directly after creating the group and creates
     /// the first stream.
@@ -118,6 +143,14 @@ pub struct CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
     #[serde(default = "crate::serde::default_true")]
     pub create_missing_group: bool,
 
+    /// Specifies the specific [group class][group_class] to create when
+    /// `create_missing_group` is enabled.
+    ///
+    /// [group_class]: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatch/latest/logs/CloudWatch_Logs_Log_Classes.html
+    #[configurable(derived)]
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub group_class: LogGroupClassDef,
+
     /// Dynamically create a [log stream][log_stream] if it does not already exist.
     ///
     /// [log_stream]: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatch/latest/logs/Working-with-log-groups-and-streams.html
@@ -236,6 +269,7 @@ fn default_config(encoding: EncodingConfig) -> CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
     CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         encoding,
         group_name: Default::default(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         stream_name: Default::default(),
         region: Default::default(),
         create_missing_group: true,
diff --git a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/integration_tests.rs b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/integration_tests.rs
index 9eebc9dbbf5cc..ee4a30a023108 100644
--- a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/integration_tests.rs
+++ b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/integration_tests.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ async fn cloudwatch_insert_log_event() {
     let config = CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         stream_name: Template::try_from(stream_name.as_str()).unwrap(),
         group_name: Template::try_from(GROUP_NAME).unwrap(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         region: RegionOrEndpoint::with_both("us-east-1", cloudwatch_address().as_str()),
         encoding: TextSerializerConfig::default().into(),
         create_missing_group: true,
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ async fn cloudwatch_insert_log_events_sorted() {
     let config = CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         stream_name: Template::try_from(stream_name.as_str()).unwrap(),
         group_name: Template::try_from(GROUP_NAME).unwrap(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         region: RegionOrEndpoint::with_both("us-east-1", cloudwatch_address().as_str()),
         encoding: TextSerializerConfig::default().into(),
         create_missing_group: true,
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@ async fn cloudwatch_insert_out_of_range_timestamp() {
     let config = CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         stream_name: Template::try_from(stream_name.as_str()).unwrap(),
         group_name: Template::try_from(GROUP_NAME).unwrap(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         region: RegionOrEndpoint::with_both("us-east-1", cloudwatch_address().as_str()),
         encoding: TextSerializerConfig::default().into(),
         create_missing_group: true,
@@ -243,6 +246,7 @@ async fn cloudwatch_dynamic_group_and_stream_creation() {
     let config = CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         stream_name: Template::try_from(stream_name.as_str()).unwrap(),
         group_name: Template::try_from(group_name.as_str()).unwrap(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         region: RegionOrEndpoint::with_both("us-east-1", cloudwatch_address().as_str()),
         encoding: TextSerializerConfig::default().into(),
         create_missing_group: true,
@@ -299,6 +303,7 @@ async fn cloudwatch_insert_log_event_batched() {
     let config = CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         stream_name: Template::try_from(stream_name.as_str()).unwrap(),
         group_name: Template::try_from(group_name.as_str()).unwrap(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         region: RegionOrEndpoint::with_both("us-east-1", cloudwatch_address().as_str()),
         encoding: TextSerializerConfig::default().into(),
         create_missing_group: true,
@@ -350,6 +355,7 @@ async fn cloudwatch_insert_log_event_partitioned() {
     let config = CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         group_name: Template::try_from(GROUP_NAME).unwrap(),
         stream_name: Template::try_from(format!("{}-{{{{key}}}}", stream_name)).unwrap(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         region: RegionOrEndpoint::with_both("us-east-1", cloudwatch_address().as_str()),
         encoding: TextSerializerConfig::default().into(),
         create_missing_group: true,
@@ -443,6 +449,7 @@ async fn cloudwatch_healthcheck() {
     let config = CloudwatchLogsSinkConfig {
         stream_name: Template::try_from("test-stream").unwrap(),
         group_name: Template::try_from(GROUP_NAME).unwrap(),
+        group_class: Default::default(),
         region: RegionOrEndpoint::with_both("us-east-1", cloudwatch_address().as_str()),
         encoding: TextSerializerConfig::default().into(),
         create_missing_group: true,
diff --git a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/request.rs b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/request.rs
index 60d9e88a6bb05..67ea130715153 100644
--- a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/request.rs
+++ b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/request.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use aws_sdk_cloudwatchlogs::{
         put_log_events::{PutLogEventsError, PutLogEventsOutput},
         put_retention_policy::PutRetentionPolicyError,
     },
-    types::InputLogEvent,
+    types::{InputLogEvent, LogGroupClass},
     Client as CloudwatchLogsClient,
 };
 use aws_smithy_runtime_api::client::{orchestrator::HttpResponse, result::SdkError};
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ struct Client {
     client: CloudwatchLogsClient,
     stream_name: String,
     group_name: String,
+    group_class: LogGroupClass,
     headers: IndexMap<HeaderName, HeaderValue>,
     retention_days: u32,
 }
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ impl CloudwatchFuture {
         headers: IndexMap<HeaderName, HeaderValue>,
         stream_name: String,
         group_name: String,
+        group_class: LogGroupClass,
         create_missing_group: bool,
         create_missing_stream: bool,
         retention: Retention,
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ impl CloudwatchFuture {
             client,
             stream_name,
             group_name,
+            group_class,
             headers,
             retention_days,
         };
@@ -288,10 +291,12 @@ impl Client {
     pub fn create_log_group(&self) -> ClientResult<(), CreateLogGroupError> {
         let client = self.client.clone();
         let group_name = self.group_name.clone();
+        let group_class = self.group_class.clone();
         Box::pin(async move {
             client
                 .create_log_group()
                 .log_group_name(group_name)
+                .log_group_class(group_class)
                 .send()
                 .await?;
             Ok(())
diff --git a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/service.rs b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/service.rs
index ab8ea09daf551..f578199441e9d 100644
--- a/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/service.rs
+++ b/src/sinks/aws_cloudwatch_logs/service.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use aws_sdk_cloudwatchlogs::{
         describe_log_streams::DescribeLogStreamsError, put_log_events::PutLogEventsError,
         put_retention_policy::PutRetentionPolicyError,
     },
-    types::InputLogEvent,
+    types::{InputLogEvent, LogGroupClass},
     Client as CloudwatchLogsClient,
 };
 use aws_smithy_runtime_api::client::{orchestrator::HttpResponse, result::SdkError};
@@ -240,11 +240,14 @@ impl CloudwatchLogsSvc {
 
         let retention = config.retention.clone();
 
+        let group_class = config.group_class.into();
+
         CloudwatchLogsSvc {
             headers,
             client,
             stream_name,
             group_name,
+            group_class,
             create_missing_group,
             create_missing_stream,
             retention,
@@ -319,6 +322,7 @@ impl Service<Vec<InputLogEvent>> for CloudwatchLogsSvc {
                 self.headers.clone(),
                 self.stream_name.clone(),
                 self.group_name.clone(),
+                self.group_class.clone(),
                 self.create_missing_group,
                 self.create_missing_stream,
                 self.retention.clone(),
@@ -337,6 +341,7 @@ pub struct CloudwatchLogsSvc {
     headers: IndexMap<HeaderName, HeaderValue>,
     stream_name: String,
     group_name: String,
+    group_class: LogGroupClass,
     create_missing_group: bool,
     create_missing_stream: bool,
     retention: Retention,
diff --git a/website/cue/reference/components/sinks/base/aws_cloudwatch_logs.cue b/website/cue/reference/components/sinks/base/aws_cloudwatch_logs.cue
index 9e9aa670e2eb2..9455b9bc1fed4 100644
--- a/website/cue/reference/components/sinks/base/aws_cloudwatch_logs.cue
+++ b/website/cue/reference/components/sinks/base/aws_cloudwatch_logs.cue
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ base: components: sinks: aws_cloudwatch_logs: configuration: {
 	create_missing_group: {
 		description: """
 			Dynamically create a [log group][log_group] if it does not already exist.
+			This will create the log group with the group class specified by the `group_class` option.
 
 			This ignores `create_missing_stream` directly after creating the group and creates
 			the first stream.
@@ -566,6 +567,22 @@ base: components: sinks: aws_cloudwatch_logs: configuration: {
 		required:    false
 		type: string: examples: ["http://127.0.0.0:5000/path/to/service"]
 	}
+	group_class: {
+		description: """
+			Specifies the specific [group class][group_class] to create when
+			`create_missing_group` is enabled.
+
+			[group_class]: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatch/latest/logs/CloudWatch_Logs_Log_Classes.html
+			"""
+		required: false
+		type: string: {
+			default: "Standard"
+			enum: {
+				InfrequentAccess: "Log class that can be used to cost-effectively consolidate logs"
+				Standard:         "Logs that require real-time monitoring or frequently accessed logs"
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	group_name: {
 		description: """
 			The [group name][group_name] of the target CloudWatch Logs stream.