Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80 it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the United States Navy's need for long range mine sweeping or Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) missions, and perform heavy-lift duties for the Navy. Under development is the CH-53K, which will be equipped with new engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider cabin.

Design

View of the CH-53E's cockpit during an in-flight refueling operation with an Air Force HC-130 Hercules

Although dimensionally similar, the three engine CH-53E Super Stallion or Sikorsky S-80 is a much more powerful aircraft than the original Sikorsky S-65 twin engined CH-53A Sea Stallion. The CH-53E also added a larger main rotor system with a seventh blade.

The CH-53E can transport up to 55 troops or 30,000 lb (13,610 kg) of cargo and can carry external slung loads up to 36,000 lb (16,330 kg). The Super Stallion has a cruise speed of 173 mph (278 km/h) and a range of 621 miles (1,000 km). The helicopter is fitted with a forward extendable in-flight refueling probe and it can also hoist hose refuel from a surface ship while in hover mode. It can carry three machine guns: one at the starboard side crew door, one at the port window, just behind the copilot, and one at the tail ramp. The CH-53E also has chaff-flare dispensers.

CH-53E off the coast of Southern California

The MH-53E features enlarged side mounted fuel sponsons and is rigged for towing its mine sweeping "sled" from high above the dangerous naval mines. The Sea Dragon is equipped with mine countermeasures systems, including twin machine guns. Its digital flight-control system includes features specifically designed to help towing mine sweeping gear.

Upgrades to the CH-53E have included the Helicopter Night Vision System (HNVS), improved .50 BMG(12.7 mm) GAU-21/A and M3P machine guns, and AAQ-29A forward looking infrared (FLIR) imager.

The CH-53E and the MH-53E are the largest helicopters in the Western world, while the CH-53K now being developed will be even larger. They are fourth in the world to the Russian Mil Mi-26 and Mil V-12, which can lift more than 22 tons (20 tonnes) and 44 tons (40 tonnes), respectively and the Mi-26's predecessor Mil Mi-6, which has less payload (12 tonnes) but is bigger and has a higher MTOW at 42 tonnes.

Specifications (CH-53E)

The CH-53E rotor and exhaust assembly in detail

A MH-53E towing the MK105 mine sweeping sled

Data from U.S. Navy history, International Directory, World Aircraft

General characteristics

• Crew: 5: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief/right gunner, 1 left gunner, 1 tail gunner (combat crew)
• Capacity: 37 troops (55 with centerline seats installed)
• Payload: internal: 30,000 lb or 13,600 kg (external: 32,000 lb or 14,500 kg)
• Length: 99 ft 1/2 in (30.2 m)
• Rotor diameter: 79 ft (24 m)
• Height: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
• Disc area: 4,900 ft² (460 m²)
• Empty weight: 33,226 lb (15,071 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 73,500 lb (33,300 kg)
• Powerplant: 3 × General Electric T64-GE-416/416A turboshaft, 4,380 shp (3,270 kW) each
• Rotor systems: 7 blades on main rotor, 4 blades on anti-torque tail rotor

Performance

• Maximum speed: 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 150 kt (173 mph, 278 km/h)
• Range: 540 nmi (621 mi, 1,000 km)
• Ferry range: 990 nmi(1,139 mi, 1,833 km)
• Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,640 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 2× .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) window-mounted GAU-15/A machine guns
  • 1× .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) ramp mounted weapons system, GAU-21 (M3M mounted machine gun)
• Other: Chaff and flare dispensers

Source

The information contained on this page is unclassified, approved for public dissemination and is released under CC-BY-SA Licensing Agreement.