In the mid-eighties, the US Navy entered service with the latest Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, intended for use in the mine defense system. This machine is still the only example of this class, but in the near future its operation may end. "Sea Dragon" managed to become obsolete morally and physically, and also managed to show excessive accident rate.
Old development
In 1980, the Sikorsky company began mass production of CH-53E Super Stallion multipurpose helicopters for the US Air Force. The naval forces also became interested in such equipment, which led to the purchase of almost 180 helicopters. In addition, the Navy ordered the development of a specialized modification intended for use in mine defense.
The anti-mine modification of the helicopter was designated MH-53E Sea Dragon. The customer demanded to rework the fuel system and increase the amount of fuel, incl. through the use of additional internal tanks. The helicopter was supposed to be able to tow surface and submerged platforms with anti-mine equipment. To use them, it was necessary to install new units, modify the control system, etc.
An experienced MH-53E helicopter was built in 1981, the first flight took place at the end of December. The next few years were spent on fine-tuning the design and testing the target equipment. The first squadron of helicopter minesweepers reached initial operational readiness in 1986. Since then, the Sea Dragons have been actively used to solve a number of basic tasks and are an important component of the US Navy's naval aviation.
Design features
In general, the design of the MH-53E repeats the basic design of the CH-53E. The helicopter is built according to the classical scheme with one main rotor and one tail rotor. The power plant is built on the basis of three General Electric T64-GE-419 turboshaft engines with a capacity of 4750 hp each. Through the gearbox, they rotate a seven-bladed main rotor with a diameter of 24.1 m.
The MH-53E looks noticeably different from the base CH-53E. The most notable difference is the teardrop-shaped side sponsons used as extended fuel tanks. To further increase the range and duration of the flight, the air refueling rod is retained.
A special frame is suspended under the tail boom. With its help, a tow rope for the target equipment is removed from the cargo compartment. In addition, it limits its movement and does not allow it to fall on the tail boom or the tail rotor.
The main task of the MH-53E is the use of various mine action equipment, carried out in the form of suspended or towed products. In addition, the helicopter can carry people or cargo. Depending on the task at hand, the cargo compartment can accommodate an additional fuel tank, space for 55 people or 14.5 tons of cargo.
The helicopter crew includes at least three people, two of them are responsible for piloting. The crew also includes target equipment operators and a flight engineer. If necessary, the latter can use the GAU-21 heavy machine gun mounted on the aft ramp.
The helicopter is capable of speeds up to 278 km / h. By increasing the capacity of the tanks, the maximum flight range was increased to 1050 nautical miles (1945 km). When implementing mine defense, the vehicle can remain in the area of operation for several hours.
Target equipment
The MH-53E is designed to carry out "air mine defense" - Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM). To solve such problems, several types of trawling equipment are used, made on the basis of surface or submersible platforms. Large products are transported to the place of use on an external sling, small ones - inside the cab. They are lowered into the water and towed along a given route.
For the Sea Dragon helicopter there are three types of towed devices with different equipment. The Mk 103 product is a submersible apparatus with a mechanical trawl. A magnetic trawl is installed on the Mk 105 pontoon, which acts on mines remotely. Also offered a towed device with a side-scan sonar station AN / AQS-14A.
A typical demining operation begins with the use of a side-scan GAS and the detection of enemy mines. After that, the MH-53E can take on the pontoon of the desired type and begin trawling. High flight characteristics allow handling relatively large water areas in one flight, finding and neutralizing mines.
In the service of two countries
The US Navy became the starting customer of the MH-53E helicopter. Serial production of such equipment by their order was deployed by the mid-eighties. By 1986, the fleet received and mastered the first squadron of such equipment. Subsequently, deliveries continued, and by the end of the decade there were 46 Sea Dragons in the naval aviation.
Soon, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces showed interest in such technology. For them, Sikorsky built 11 helicopters, which entered service under the designation S-80M. The Japanese MSS used the technique for its intended purpose in missions such as AMCM. Over time, the helicopters developed a resource, and the command decided not to upgrade. The last S-80M was decommissioned in 2017.
The MH-53E and S-80M helicopters were actively used both for their intended purpose and as an air transport. In 1991, American helicopters were for the first time involved in real combat work. During Operation Desert Storm, they searched for and swept sea mines in the Persian Gulf. In 2003, they again had to solve the same problems in the same region. In 2004, minesweeping helicopters, along with other equipment, were used as vehicles to assist victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
According to known data, now the US Navy has two anti-mine squadrons on the Sea Dragon - HM-14 and HM-15. Squadron HM-12 is a reserve squadron. Only 28 vehicles remain in service, 7 more have been transferred to the reserve. The rest of the cars were lost or decommissioned under various circumstances from 1986 to 2014.
US Navy MH-53E helicopters are still in service. In the recent past, a “life cycle extension” program has been implemented. With its help, the service life of the equipment was extended to 10 thousand flight hours. This will make it possible to operate helicopters until at least 2025.
Accident record
For some time now, the MH-53E is considered the most emergency model in the American naval aviation. According to published information, there are 5, 96 “class A” accidents per 100,000 flight hours, with serious structural damage or loss of life. For other helicopters of the Navy, this figure does not exceed 2.3. During the operation, 32 people died in accidents with the "Sea Dragons".
A specific combination of several main factors leads to such operating results. So, the use of technology within the AMCM involves long flights over the sea at low altitude with a pontoon towing. At the same time, the helicopter has an outdated analog-digital control system without a developed autopilot. In difficult situations, pilots have to rely only on themselves.
Thus, the main work of the MH-53E is particularly complex and leads to serious risks and prerequisites for flight accidents. At the same time, the helicopter does not fully meet the requirements of such an operation.
End of operation
According to recent plans, the Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters were supposed to remain in operation until 2025 and to solve mine action problems. By the indicated dates, it was planned to form a fairly large grouping of Littoral Combat Ship ships with anti-mine capabilities, after which it would be possible to abandon the old helicopters.
Such plans will begin to be implemented in the near future. The FY2021 military budget was recently released, proposing to begin writing off the remaining MH-53Es from 2022. Given the small number of surviving helicopters, it can be assumed that the process of abandoning them will not take long and will be completed no later than 2025.
For several decades, MH-53E Sea Dragon minesweepers have regularly participated in patrols and exercises. In addition, they were involved in real combat work. "Sea Dragons" proved to be an effective, but rather difficult to operate, mine defense tool. Now their exploitation is coming to an end. Apparently, the remaining MH-53E will no longer be able to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of their service.
