page_title: Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion / Design
caption_attribution_description: English: H-53E slung load hummer MAGTF demo 2014
context_page_description: The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the United States military. 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. 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 minesweeping or Airborne Mine Countermeasures missions, and perform heavy-lift duties for the Navy. 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.
context_section_description: 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 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.  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.
  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.
  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.
caption: A CH-53 sling loads a HMMWV during a MAGTF demonstration
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