The Stallions: What To Know About The US Military CH-53 Helicopter Variants (2024)

The Sikorsky Stallion series is a proven, time-honored US Navy and Marine Corps helicopter fleet workhorse. Simple Flying now dives deeper into the world of these flying metallic horses.

Photo: NARA & DVIDS

Manufacturer's profile

Sikorsky Aircraft, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is arguably the most famous name in American helicopter manufacturing. It was founded in 1923 by the Russian-born Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky (May 25, 1889 – October 26, 1972), four years after he fled to the United States of America to escape the tyranny of the Russian Revolution and resultant Soviet Communist tyranny. He had already established a sterling reputation as an aviation pioneer back in happier times in Czarist Russia; he designed the world’s first multi-engine airplane in Russia in 1913.

Sikorsky Aircraft was among the first companies to manufacture choppers for civilian and military use. The company also produced seaplanes for passenger transport and surface vehicles such as boats and trains. United Technologies Corporation owned Sikorsky until November 2015, when Lockheed Martin purchased it.

Photo (Logo):Great Brightstar | Wikimedia Commons

CH-53D Sea Stallion

The CH-53 is the older version of the Sikorsky Stallion series, making its maiden flight on October 14, 1964 (as the YCH-53 prototype), with the CH-53A officially entering service with the USMC in 1966. In turn, the CH-53D -- with an improved transmission, a larger cabin for 55 troops, and automatic rotor blade folding -- debuted on January 27, 1969. The D model served alongside the A variant for the remainder of the Vietnam War, with 126 total airframes built. The aircraft was retired by the Marine Corps in 2012.

According to Naval History and Heritage Command:

“The Sea Stallion proved ideally suited to the tactical situation that existed in-country. In their fight against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars, leatherneck ground forces operated from distant fire bases that could not be supplied overland… Other notable use of CH-53A and -53D Sea Stallions in Southeast Asia included the 1975 evacuation of personnel from Saigon, Republic of Vietnam and Phnom Penh, Cambodia during the end of American involvement in Southeast Asia (Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind), and that same year the rescue of American crewmen from the merchant ship Mayaguez, who were being held by Cambodians on the heavily defended island of Koh Tang.”

CH-53E Super Stallion/MH-53E Sea Dragon

Making its maiden flight on March 1, 1974, but not entering operational service until 1981, this was (as can be implied from the alphabetical order and sequence) the successor to the CH-53A and D models alike. According to the official website of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River (ICAO: KNCA; located in Jacksonville, North Carolina):

“Improvements include the addition of a third engine to give the aircraft the ability to lift the majority of the Fleet Marine Force's equipment, a dual point cargo hook system, improved main rotor blades, and composite tail rotor blades. A dual digital automatic flight control system and engine anti-ice system give the aircraft an all-weather capability. The helicopter seats 37 passengers in its normal configuration and has provisions to carry 55 passengers with centerline seats installed. With the dual point hook systems, it can carry external loads at increased airspeeds due to the stability achieved with the dual point system.”

Meanwhile, the MH-53 Sea Dragon is the US Navy’s version of the whirlybird.

The USN uses the Sea Dragon for the following duties:

• Long-range minesweeping
• Airborne mine countermeasures missions
• Heavy-lift duties

172 Super Stallions and Sea Dragons have been built thus far.

CH-53K King Stallion

The grandest Stallion of them all, the King Stallion, made its maiden flight on October 27, 2015.

It was first delivered to the USMC in May 2018 and was officially coronated with initial operational capability (IOC) on April 22, 2022. According to the manufacturer's official info page:

"The CH-53K King Stallion advances Sikorsky’s 50 years of manufacturing and operational success with its CH-53A, CH-53D/G, and CH-53E predecessors. Built to thrive on the modern battlefield, including shipboard operations, the CH-53K aircraft is designed to be intelligent, reliable, low maintenance and survivable in the most austere and remote forward operating bases."

"The CH-53K helicopter has been designed and built to the exacting standards of the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and will serve as its critical land and sea based logistics connector. The new heavy lifter will allow the U.S. Marine Corps and international militaries to move troops and equipment from ship to shore, and to higher altitude terrain, more quickly and effectively than ever before."

As of early 2023, 19 CH-53K airframes have been built.