| The CH-53E Super Stallion is used by the | | | | horsepower) each. It has a maximum speed |
| United States Marine Corps to perform | | | | of 196 mph and an unrefueled range of |
| heavy lift missions and the U.S. Navy as | | | | 540 nautical miles, which can be |
| an aerial mine sweeper. It's the largest | | | | increased by using in-flight refueling. |
| and most powerful helicopter in the | | | | It's armed with two window mounted |
| United States inventory. | | | | 50-caliber machine guns and one ramp |
| The CH-53E looks very similar to its | | | | mounted gun in the rear. For defense it |
| siblings the CH-53A/G, HH-53C and MH-53. | | | | has chaff and flare dispensers as well |
| The major difference is this has three | | | | as missile warning receivers. |
| engines while other models have two. | | | | Upgrades to the Super Stallion have |
| This provides extra power and | | | | included the Helicopter Night Vision |
| redundancy. In fact the CH-53E is able | | | | System and an improved Forward Looking |
| to lift and recover every aircraft in | | | | Infrared Imaging system (FLIR). |
| the Marine inventory except the KC-130 | | | | Since it entered service the CH-53E has |
| Hercules. It's able to lift Humvees, | | | | seen action in Beirut, Somalia, Kuwait, |
| artillery pieces, and the Marine Corps | | | | Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. |
| Light Armored Vehicle 25 (LAV 25). | | | | Additionally whenever a U.S. embassy is |
| The Navy version, designated the MH-53E | | | | under imminent threat of attack the |
| Sea Dragon performs long-range mine | | | | Marines use Super Stallions to evacuate |
| sweeping, Airborne Mine Countermeasures | | | | embassy personnel. |
| missions and heavy lift. | | | | The CH-53E has a crew of five. Two |
| The Super Stallion entered service in | | | | pilots, a crew chief/right gunner, a |
| 1981 and has served faithfully ever | | | | left gunner and a tail gunner. |
| since. The largest operator of it is the | | | | A new CH-53 will soon be in operation |
| Marine Corps who have over 100 in | | | | with the Marines. The CH-53K. Four of |
| service. | | | | the new Stallions have been built for |
| The CH-53E can carry 37 troops without | | | | system evaluation. The Ch-53K will be |
| centerline seats installed and 55 combat | | | | able to double the payload capability of |
| troops with centerline seats installed | | | | the CH-53E. It will be powered by |
| or it can carry 32,000 pounds of cargo. | | | | General Electric engines and a utilize a |
| It's capable of hoisting up to 34000 | | | | new composite rotor system. It has been |
| pounds. The Super Stallion has a seven | | | | in service for almost 30 years. It's |
| bladed rotor system with a rotor | | | | proven its worth one mission at a time |
| diameter of 79ft. It's powered by three | | | | and is a big part of the Marine Corps |
| General Electric T64-GE-416 turbo shaft | | | | vertical envelopment warfare doctrine. |
| engines rated at 4,380 SHP (shaft | | | | |