Sikorsky H-53

CH-53K-King-Stallion-induction-NAS-Patuxent-River- cropped

The Sikorsky H-53 is a family of

military helicopter A military helicopter is a helicopter that is either specifically designed for or converted for usage by a military. A military helicopter's mission is a function of its design or conversion. The most common use of military helicopters is airlif ...

s built by

Sikorsky Aircraft Sikorsky Aircraft is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. It was established by the Russian-American aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923, and was among the first companies to manufacture helicopters for civilian ...

. H-53 is its United States military designation; the company has several designations for it including S-65, S-80, and S-95. The helicopter is noted for Naval, Search and Rescue, Minesweeping, Special Operations, and Cargo. It entered service in the 1960s and has remained so with series of upgraded 2 and 3 engine models over the decades, and is still in production in the 21st century. Variants include: *

Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion The CH-53 Sea Stallion (Sikorsky S-65) is a family of American heavy-lift transport helicopters designed and built by the American manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. The Sea Stallion was originally developed in response to a request from the Unite ...

(S-65), a heavy-lift helicopter introduced in 1966 with two engines, a six bladed main rotor and a four bladed tail rotor. Developed as a transport helicopter and an assault helicopter. Some early versions covered in that article include: **YCH-53, prototype version **CH-53A, first production version **CH-53G, for the German Army **CH-53Ö, for Austria **CH-53D, upgraded version with bigger cabin and new transmission *

Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low The Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low series is a retired long-range special operations and combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter for the United States Air Force. The series was upgraded from the HH-53B/C, variants of the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stall ...

and Sikorsky HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant, upgraded helicopters with more powerful engines, improved avionics and armament used for

combat search and rescue Combat search and rescue (CSAR) are search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones. A CSAR mission may be carried out by a task force of helicopters, ground-attack aircraft, aerial refueling ta ...

and

special operations Special operations or special ops are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment." Special operations ma ...

. Pave Low variants were retired in 2008. *

Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion 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 ...

(S-80) and Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon, a heavier helicopter introduced in 1981, developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion by adding a third engine, a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. The MH-53E Sea Dragon is used for long range mine sweeping or airborne mine countermeasures. *

Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion (Sikorsky S-95) is a heavy transport helicopter designed and produced by Sikorsky Aircraft. The King Stallion is an evolution of the long running CH-53 series of helicopters which has been in continuous servi ...

(S-95), an upgraded version with composite rotor blades, a wider cabin, and modernised systems that entered service in the 2020s and is in production. {{SIA United States helicopters Sikorsky H-53