Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion

Efran Syah       Helicopter    Comment   

A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter rises from the flight deck to disembark Marines at Camp Pendleton, California after a scheduled six-month deployment aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), 3 November 2008. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Kelling/Released)

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the United States military. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps.

A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to the Evil Eyes of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 163 approaches the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45), 7 July 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac/Released)

The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the United States Navy's need for long range minesweeping or Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) missions, and perform heavy-lift duties for the Navy. 

A CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to the "Condors" of Helicopter Light Squadron Four Sixty Four (HMH-464) lifts off the deck of USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) for another combat mission to re-supply the Marines fighting for control of Southern Iraq, 23 March 2003. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Jeffrey Truett)

As the Sikorsky S-80 it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. Under development is the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, which has new engines, new composite material rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin; this is to replace the CH-53E.

(ShakataGaNai/Wiki Common)

The CH-53 was the product of the U.S. Marines' "Heavy Helicopter Experimental" (HH(X)) competition begun in 1962. Sikorsky's S-65 was selected over Boeing Vertol's modified CH-47 Chinook version. The prototype YCH-53A first flew on 14 October 1964. The helicopter was designated "CH-53A Sea Stallion" and delivery of production helicopters began in 1966.

Djibouti (April 23, 2009). A Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 approaches an Air Force C-130P aircraft from the 81st Rescue Squadron during a helicopter air refueling mission. (U.S. Navy photo by Jesse B. Awalt/Released)

The first CH-53As were powered by two General Electric T64-GE-6 turboshaft engines with 2,850 shp (2,125 kW) and had a maximum gross weight of 46,000 lb (20,865 kg) including 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) in payload.

A CH-53E Super Stallion lifts a flank armored High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) from the flightline of Al Asad Air Base (AB), Iraq, 24 September 2007. (CPL ALICIA M. GARCIA, USMC)

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.

U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2 secure 1,500 pounds of fuel to a cable under a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter at Al Anbar province, Iraq, April 14, 2007. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. James R. Richardson)

The CH-53E was designed for transporting up to 55 troops with the installation of seats along the cabin center line or 30,000 lb (13,610 kg) of cargo and can carry external slung loads up to 36,000 lb (16,330 kg). The CH-53E has incorporated the same crash attenuating seats as the MV-22B to increase survivability of passengers but reduced its troop transport capacity to 30.

CH-53E Super Stallions land to refuel in preparation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron S. Patterson/Released)

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. It can carry three machine guns: one at the starboard side crew door; one at the port window, just behind the copilot; and a firing position on the tail ramp. The CH-53E also has chaff-flare dispensers.

A CH-53E Super Stallion hovers over a M777 155 mm Howitzer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Glen Santy)

The MH-53E features enlarged side-mounted fuel sponsons and is rigged for towing various minesweeping and hunting gear from above the dangerous naval mines. The Sea Dragon can be equipped for minesweeping, cargo and passenger transportation. Its digital flight-control system includes features specifically designed to help towing mine sweeping gear.

In addition, the CH-53E has been upgraded to include 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.

A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter settles over two pallets of water to hook onto the cargo and transport it to Marines operating in remote areas of southern Afghanistan, 29 January 2010. (Marines / Wiki Common)

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 Halo single-rotor helicopter and the enormous, twin transverse rotored Mil V-12 Homer, which can lift more than 22 tons (20 tonnes) and 44 tons (40 tonnes), respectively and the Mi-26's single-rotor predecessor Mil Mi-6, which has less payload (12 tonnes) but is bigger and has a higher MTOW at 42 tonnes.

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter approaches the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) for landing, 4 September 2005. (Mate 3rd Class Kristopher Wilson , US Navy)

Variants

• YCH-53E. United States military designation for two Sikorsky S-65E (later S-80E) prototypes.
• CH-53E Super Stallion. United States military designation for the S-80E heavy lift transport variant for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 170 built.
• MH-53E Sea Dragon. United States military designation for the S-80M mine-countermeasures variant for the United States Navy, 50 built.
• VH-53F. Proposed presidential transport variant, not-built.
• S-80E. Export variant of the heavy lift transport variant, not-built.
• S-80M. Export variant of the mine-countermeasures variant, 11-built for Japan. The last were retired in 2017.

A CH-53E Super Stallion approaches the refueling hose of a Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron - 352 C-130 Hercules for air-to-air refueling over the Red Sea, July 30, 2016. (Sgt. Seth Starr)

General characteristics

• Crew: 5: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief/right gunner, 1 left gunner, 1 tail gunner (combat crew)
• Capacity: 30 troops with new crash attenuating seats / internal: 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) / external: 36,000 lb (16,329 kg)
• Length: 99 ft 0.5 in (30.188 m)
• Height: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
• Empty weight: 33,226 lb (15,071 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 73,500 lb (33,339 kg)
• Powerplant: 3 × General Electric T64-GE-416 / GE-416A / GE-419 turboshaft engines, 4,380 shp (3,270 kW) each
• Main rotor diameter: 79 ft 0 in (24.08 m)
• Main rotor area: 4,900 sq ft (460 m2) Sikorsky SC1095

Performance

• Maximum speed: 150 kn (170 mph, 280 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 120 kn (140 mph, 220 km/h)
• Range: 540 nmi (620 mi, 1,000 km)
• Combat range: 180 nmi (210 mi, 330 km)
• Ferry range: 990 nmi (1,140 mi, 1,830 km)
• Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,600 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)

Armament

• Guns:
• 2× .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) window-mounted GAU-21 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