MH - 53J Pave Low III The Sikorsky MH - 53J Pave Low III is an upgraded variant of the MH - 53 Pave Low , the helicopter served in the Operation Desert Storm until 2008 , when all Pave Low variants were replaced by the V - 22 Osprey . Description . MH - 53J Pave Low IIIE is an upgraded version of the MH - 53 Pave Low , a heavy lift helicopter which was used extensively during the Vietnam War . The MH - 53J ' s mission is to perform low - level , long - range , undetected penetration into denied areas , day or night , in adverse weather , for infiltration , exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces . The MH - 53 helicopter is a highly versatile aircraft . It is used for a variety of missions , usually in conjunction with special operations . The MH - 53 is a two - engine , single - rotor , heavy - lift helicopter . It has a crew of six and can be refueled while in flight . It has a precision navigational and communications package , which makes it excellent for conducting deep infiltration and exfiltration missions . The MH - 53 helicopter can fly at night in all weather and terrain conditions . It can follow down to 100 feet and operate from unprepared sites . It is fitted with three gun stations for a mix of 7 . 62 - mm miniguns and caliber . 50 machine guns . Under the Pave Low III program , the Air Force modified nine MH - 53H ' s and 32 HH - 53s for night and adverse weather operations . Modifications included forward - looking infrared , inertial global positioning system , Doppler navigation systems , terrain - following and terrain - avoidance radar , an on - board computer , and integrated avionics to enable precise navigation to and from target areas . The Air Force designated these modified versions as MH - 53J ' s . The MH - 53J Pave Low III heavy - lift helicopter is the largest and one of the most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory , and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world . Its terrain - following , terrain - avoidance radar and forward - looking infrare d sensor , along with a projected map display , enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles , making low - level penetration possible . The helicopter is equipped with armor plating , and a combination of three 7 . 62mm miniguns or . 50 caliber machine guns . It can transport 38 troops or 14 litters and has an external cargo hook with a 20 , 000 - pound ( 9 , 000 - kilogram ) capacity . The MH - 53J has twin turbo - shaft engines ; self - lubricating , all - metal main and tail rotors ; and a large horizontal stabilizer on the tail rotor pylon ' s right side . The MH - 53J Pave Low is a modified version of the HH - 53 Super Jolly Green Giant helicopter used extensively during the Vietnam War for special operations and rescue of combat personnel . During past space programs , the HH - 53 was on duty at the launch site as the primary astronaut recovery vehicle . Under the Air Force ' s Pave Low IIIE program , nine MH - 53H ' s and 32 HH - 53s were modified for night and adverse weather operations and designated MH - 53J ' s . Their modifications included forward - looking infrared , iner tial global positioning system , Doppler navigation systems , a terrain - following and terrain - avoidance radar , an on - board computer and integrated avionics to enable precise navigation to and from target areas . MH - 53J ' s were used in a variety of missions during Desert Storm . Pave Lows were among the first aircraft into Iraq when they led Army AH - 64 Apache s to destroy Iraqi early warning radars and opened a hole in enemy air defenses for the opening air armada . In addition to infiltration , exfiltration and resupply of special forces teams throughout Iraq and Kuwait , Pave Lows provided search and rescue coverage for coalition air forces in Iraq , Saudi Arabia , Kuwait , Turkey and the Persian Gulf . An MH - 53J made the first successful combat recovery of a downed pilot in Operation Desert Storm . Following the war , MH - 53J ' s were deployed to Northern Iraq to support Operation Provide Comfort , assisting displaced Kurds . Pave Lows were also used extensively during Operation Just Cause in Panama . The 58th Special Operations Wing TH - 53A is the first model of the H - 53 helicopter students learn to fly before going to the more advanced MH - 53J Pave Low IIIE . The 58th SOW offers more than 90 courses for special operations and combat search and rescue troops at Kirtland Air Force Base , NM . Courses include transition and instruments , aerial refueling , airdrops , helicopter hoist and combat tactics training . The wing trains some 1 , 600 students each year in HH - 60 Pave Hawk , UH - 1N Huey , TH - 53A and MH - 53J Pave Low IIIE helicopters , and MC - 130 Combat Talon and MC - 130P Combat Shadow aircraft .