| QUICK LINKS |
|
|
|
|
Sikorsky
posted by Jiri Wagner
Sikorsky H-53 Series helicopters combine power and versatility like nothing else in the sky. They're at home in searing desert heat. Arctic cold. And everything in between. Flying a gamut of missions. Including heavy-lift operations. Military transport. Search and rescue. Vertical replenishment. Vertical onboard delivery. Airborne mine countermeasures. Advanced early warning. Minesweeping. Humanitarian aid. Disaster relief.
The CH-53E Super Stallion and MH-53E Sea Dragon can carry 16 tons of supplies, cargo, vehicles, artillery, and troops for 50 nautical miles. They operate at cruise speeds of 170 knots. And, with air-to-air refueling, H-53E Series helicopters have unlimited range.
And they'll only get stronger. Sikorsky is currently developing an installation kit to put the 4,750 shp T64-GE-419 turboshaft in the MH-53E. And cockpit upgrades are under way for both the Marine CH-53E heavy lifter and Navy MH-53E minesweeper.
The MH-53E is used primarily for Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), with a secondary
mission of shipboard delivery.
The MH-53E was derived from the CH-53E Super Stallion and is heavier and has a greater
fuel capacity than its ancestor. The MH-53s can operate from carriers and other warships.
Sea Dragon is capable of carrying up to 55 troops or a 16-ton payload 50 nautical miles or
a 10-ton payload 500 nautical miles. The MH-53E is capable of towing a variety of
mine-sweeping countermeasures systems, including the Mk 105 minesweeping sleed, the ASQ-14
side-scan sonar, and the Mk 103 mechanical minesweeping system.
General characteristics |
|||
| Primary function | Multirole heavy lifter/minesweeper | ||
| Contractor | Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. | ||
| Power plant | Three General Electric T64-GE-416 turboshaft engines | ||
| Thrust | 3x 4,380 HP | 3x 3,266 kW | |
| Length with rotors spread | 99 ft | 30.19 m | |
| Height | 28,4 ft | 8.66 m | |
| Rotor diameter | 79 ft | 24.08 m | |
| Speed | max. | 195 mph | 315 km/h |
| cruising | 173 mph | 278 km/h | |
| Ceiling | 18,500 ft | 5,640 m | |
| Initial climb rate | 41.66 ft/s | 12.7 m/s | |
| Weight empty | 33,226 lb | 15,071 kg | |
| Max. takeoff weight | with internal cargo | 69,750 lb | 31,640 kg |
| with external cargo | 73,500 lb | 33,340 kg | |
| Range | 1,290 miles | 2,076 km | |
| Armamentj | None; possible window mount provisions 7.62 mm and .50 CAL weapons or AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles | ||
| Crew | Two pilots; one to six aircrewman, depending on mission. | ||
Copyright © All Rights Reserved