Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion

Type (Muster)
Heavy-lift military transport helicopter (militärischer Schwerlasthubschrauber)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Sikorsky Aircraft
6900 Main Street
Stratford, Connecticut 06615-9129
USA

Phone: 001-203/386-4000
Fax: 001-203/386-7300

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 4 (including crew chief and aerial observer in the cabin)
Passengers (Passagiere): 37 or up to 55 troops or 24 litters
External load capacity (Außenlast): 16330 kg

Weapons: The CH-53E can be fitted with two machine guns

Power plant (Antrieb): 3 x General Electric T64-GE-416 or T64-GE-416A
Power (Leistung): 3 x 2756 kW (3696 shp) max. continuous or 3266 kW for 10 minutes or 3091 kW intermediate rating. Transmission can take 10067 kW (13500 shp)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpfänge): 22,35 m
Total length, rotors turning (Länge über alles): 30,19 m
Height (Höhe): 8,64 m or 5,7 m when folded
Rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 24,08 m
Main rotor disk area (Rotorkreisfläche): 455,4 m
Tail rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 6,1 m

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 9,14 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 2,29 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1.98 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 15073 kg
Max. fuel (max. Kraftstoff): 3849 litres internally, plus 4921 litres in two external tanks
Basic mission payload (normale Zuladung): 14510 kg
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 16330 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 31631 kg
Max. take-off weight with external load (Max. Startmasse mit Außenlasten): 33339 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 315 km/h, normally restricted to 277 km/h
Max. cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 278 km/h
Max climb rate (Stiegrate): 12,7 m/s with 11340 kg Zuladung
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 5640 m
Hover ceiling in ground effect (Schwebeflughöhe im Bodeneffekt): 3515 m
Hover ceiling OGE (Schwebeflughöhe ohne Bodeneffekt): 2895 m
Range (Reichweite): 740 km with 9500 kg payload
Combat radius (Einsatzradius): 90 km with 14500 kg payload
Ferry range (Überführungsreichweite): 2075 km
Endurance (Flugdauer): 5.1 hours maximum

Costs (Preise)
Around 24 million US-Dollars at 1992 price level

Customers (Kunden)
The CH-53E is in service with the US Navy and Marine Corps. 178 were built.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
None

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The CH-53E is the latest transport development of the CH-53 family. Its distinguishing features compared with the CH-53D are:

three instead of two engines
rotor has now seven instead of six blades
the tail is larger and canted

The Super Stallion is mainly used by the US Marine Corps for amphibious assault mission, carrying heavy equipment. It can also recover disabled aircraft and helicopters and perform long-range rescue duties. The US Navy is using its CH-53Es for supply missions.
For airborne mine countermeasures, the US Navy is using the MH-53E Sea Dragon, which has enlarged sponsons to hold more fuel and are abel to tow sleds through the water.

History (Geschichte)
The first CH-53E Super Stallion made its maiden flight on 1 March 1974. A production prototype followed on 8 December 1975. Due to development problems, deliveries die not get under way until 16 June 1981.
A helicopter night vision system was developed from 1986, to allow ops in low-level operations at night.

Last updated 29 May 2000

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