Function: Low-level, long-range, all weather Combat Search and Rescue, Special Operations Support, and heavy equipment transport.











Description: The MH-53J Pave Low IIIE heavy-lift helicopter is the largest, most technologically advanced, and most powerful helicopter in the Airforce. Based on the basic Vietnam era HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant airframe, the Pave Low IIIE has been optimized for low level insertions and extractions, self defense, enemy small arms fire suppression, and bulk cargo and troop transport. The 53J's terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar, forward-looking infrared sensor, inertial navigation system with global positioning system, along with a projected map display enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible. Additionally, the MH-53J is equipped with a aerial refueling probe and is capable of lifting 20,000 pounds of cargo using its external cargo hook.





General Characteristics, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE





Contractor:

Sikorsky Aircraft Company







Power Plant:

Two General Electric T64-GE/-100 engines producing 4,330 shaft horsepower per engine







Length:

92 feet (28 meters)







Height:

25 feet (7.6 meters)







Rotor Diameter:

72 feet (21.9 meters)







Maximum Take-off Weight:

46,000 pounds







Speed:

165 mph (at sea level)







Range:

600 nautical miles (unlimited with air refueling)







Crew:

Two pilots, two flight engineers, two gunners, and up to 38 troops













Navigation Sensors:

VHF/UHF DF



TACAN



TACNAV



Doppler Radar



Radar Altimeter



GPS (Provisions)



Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) system







Armament:

Any combination of three GCAL-50 machine guns or GAU-2B/A 7.62mm miniguns







Countermeasures:

Infrared (IR) Jamming System



Chaff and Flare Dispensers (2)



Radar Warning Receiver







Date Deployed:

1981