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55-452: The Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant includes a design bureau and an experimental production plant. The Mil Design Bureau is one of the world's leading developers of helicopters, with particular expertise in heavy-lift helicopters. It has developed both civil and military versions in a wide range of payload capacities, including the world's largest in serial production, the Mi-26 . Ninety-five percent of

110-536: A $ 8.5 million contract for CH-53K maintenance training aids, such as the Maintenance Training Device Suite (MTDS) and Helicopter Emulation Maintenance Trainer (HEMT). The MTDS is a realistic training and evaluation environment for various avionics, electrical, and hydraulic subsystems. The HEMT is a 3D simulation of multiple scenarios, such as functional test, troubleshoot, fault isolation, removal and installation of 27 subsystems. On 24 January 2014,

165-614: A 23-tonne (25-short-ton) block of frozen soil encasing a preserved, 23,000-year-old woolly mammoth ( Jarkov Mammoth ) from the Siberian tundra to a lab in Khatanga , Russia . Due to the weight of the load, the Mi-26 had to be returned to the factory afterward to check for airframe and rotor warping caused by the potential of structural over-stressing. In early 2002, a civilian Mi-26 was leased to recover two U.S. Army MH-47E Chinook helicopters from

220-663: A 40-ton next-generation heavy helicopter. Rostvertol , the Russian helicopter manufacturer, was contracted to refurbish and upgrade the entire fleet of Mi-26s serving in the Russian Air Force , estimated to be around 20 helicopters. The upgraded aircraft is comparable to a new variant, the Mi-26T. Contract completion was planned for 2015. The contract also covered the production of 22 new Mi-26T helicopters. Eight new-built helicopters were delivered to operational units by January 2012. Under

275-474: A Russian company called Sportsflite that operated three civilian Mi-26 versions called "Heavycopters". One of the aircraft, aiding in construction and firefighting work in neighboring Tajikistan, was leased for $ 300,000; it lifted the Chinook, flew it to Kabul , then later to Bagram Air Base , Afghanistan to ship to Fort Campbell , Kentucky , U.S. for repairs. Six months later, a second U.S. Army CH-47 that had made

330-438: A hard landing 160 kilometres (100 mi) north of Bagram at an altitude of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) was recovered by another Sportsflite-operated Mi-26 Heavycopter. On 19 August 2002, Chechen separatists hit an overloaded Mi-26 with a surface-to-air missile , causing it to crash-land in a minefield , killing 127 of the people on board – the greatest loss of life in the history of helicopter aviation. As

385-457: A heavy-lift helicopter for military and civil use, having twice the cabin space and payload of the Mi-6, then the world's largest and fastest production helicopter. The primary purpose of the Mi-26 was to transport military equipment such as 13-tonne (29,000 lb) amphibious armored personnel carriers and mobile ballistic missiles to remote locations after delivery by military transport aircraft such as

440-448: A major program restructuring. Flaws included the engine re-ingesting exhaust gas, limited service life for the rotor gear boxes, late deliveries of redesigned parts, and deficiencies with the tail rotor and driveshaft. It is estimated that the delay will push back delivery of combat-ready CH-53Ks until May 2020. In 2023, an order was placed with Sikorsky Helicopters for 35 CH-53K helicopters for 2.77 billion USD, as production ramped up at

495-702: A maximum gross weight of 46,000 pounds (21,000 kg). Variants of the original CH-53A Sea Stallion include the RH-53A/D, HH-53B/C, CH-53D, CH-53G, and MH-53H /J/M . The RH-53A and RH-53D were used by the United States Navy for minesweeping . The CH-53D had a more powerful version of the General Electric T64 engine, used in all H-53 variants, and external fuel tanks. The US Air Force 's HH-53B/C Super Jolly Green Giant were for special operations and combat rescue. The Air Force's MH-53H/J/M Pave Low were

550-589: A more powerful rotor system. Sikorsky proposed the S-80 design to the Marines in 1968. The Marines considered this a good, quick solution, and funded development of a testbed helicopter. Changes on the CH-53E also included a stronger transmission and a fuselage stretched 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m). The main rotor blades' material was changed to a titanium - fiberglass composite . A new automatic flight control system

605-578: A mountain in Afghanistan. The Chinooks, operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment , had been employed in Operation Anaconda , an effort to drive al Qaeda and Taliban fighters out of the Shahi-Kot Valley and surrounding mountains. They found themselves stranded on the slopes above Sirkhankel at altitudes of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) and 3,100 metres (10,200 ft). While

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660-474: A new digital glass cockpit with fly-by-wire controls and haptic feedback , HUMS , a new elastomeric hub system, and composite rotor blades to improve " hot and high " performance. The split torque gearbox with quill shafts started development around 2007. The gearbox assembly including rotor hub and rotating control system weighs around 11,650 lb (5,280 kg). The split torque gearbox weighs 5,270 lb (2,390 kg). For comparison,

715-553: A payload of 36,000 pounds (16,000 kg), the maximum weight on the single center point cargo hook. The first CH-53K was delivered to the USMC on 16 May 2018; at the time, 18 additional helicopters were in production, and the second was planned for delivery in early 2019. In December 2018, the CH-53K was projected to not be combat ready as expected in late 2019, due to delivery delays caused by technical flaws found in testing, which resulted in

770-468: A result of the magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan province of China on 12 May 2008, many rivers became blocked by landslides, resulting in the formation of so-called quake lakes: large amounts of water pooling up behind the landslide-formed dams . These dams eventually broke under the weight of the water, endangering those downstream. At least one Mi-26 belonging to a branch of China's civil aviation service

825-542: A total cost of $ 25 billion. Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) testing started in April 2014; flight testing began with the maiden flight on 27 October 2015. In May 2018, the first CH-53K was delivered to the Marine Corps. On 22 April 2022, it was declared to have passed initial operational capability . Israel has also reportedly ordered the type; other potential export customers include Japan. The Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion came out of

880-451: A total of 177. For the airborne mine countermeasures role, the Navy obtained a CH-53E variant, designated MH-53E Sea Dragon , with enlarged sponsons and fuel tanks for greater fuel storage, in the 1980s. The Navy obtained 46 Sea Dragons. The USMC had planned upgrades to retain most CH-53Es, but this effort stalled. Sikorsky proposed a new model, originally designated "CH-53X"; in April 2006,

935-467: Is a Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) built by Lockheed Martin , Sikorsky's parent company. On 22 April 2022, Lt. General Mark R. Wise , Deputy Commandant for Aviation, declared initial operational capability for the CH-53K. In 2009, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) said it would evaluate the new variant after it flies. In August 2015, it formalized a requirement for the CH-53K, listing

990-405: Is an evolution of the long running CH-53 series of helicopters which has been in continuous service since 1966, and features three up-rated 7,500  shp (5,590  kW ) engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin than its predecessors. It is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military . The United States Marine Corps plans to receive 200 helicopters at

1045-601: Is increased over the CH-53E's 73,500 lb (33,300 kg). The CH-53K will keep approximately the same footprint as the CH-53E. To this end, it has redesigned composite sponsons that cut overall width for a narrower footprint, which is better for shipboard service. In May 2018, the first CH-53K King Stallion was delivered to the USMC. The U.S. Marine Corps received its first CH-53K simulator at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina on 1 May 2020. It

1100-531: Is only slightly higher than the Mi-6's, the Mi-26 has a payload of up to 20 tonnes (44,000 lb). It is the second largest and heaviest helicopter ever constructed, after the experimental Mil V-12. The tail rotor has about the same diameter and thrust as the four-bladed main rotor fitted to the MD Helicopters MD 500 . The Mi-26's unique main gearbox is relatively light at 3,639 kg (8,023 lb) but can absorb 14,700 kilowatts (19,725 shp), which

1155-680: The Antonov An-22 or Ilyushin Il-76 . The first Mi-26 flew on 14 December 1977 and the first production aircraft was rolled out on 4 October 1980. Development was completed in 1983 and by 1985, the Mi-26 was in Soviet military and commercial service. The Mi-26 was the first factory-equipped helicopter with a single, eight-blade main lift rotor . It is capable of flight in the event of power loss by one engine (depending on aircraft mission weight) because of an engine load sharing system. While its empty weight

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1210-551: The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute in Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast . The Mil Mi-1 became the first mass-produced Soviet helicopter. The Mi-8 helicopter, designed in the early 1960s, was a successful design in both military and civil applications, with over 12,000 units being produced. Mil merged with Kamov and Rostvertol to form Russian Helicopters in 2006. The Mil brand name has been retained, although

1265-615: The German Air Force's CH-53G heavy lift helicopter replacement program, in which the CH-53K competed against the Boeing CH-47 Chinook . The German Federal Ministry of Defence was expected to issue an official request for information in late 2018, to award a contract in 2020, and for deliveries to begin in 2023 for an expected order of around 40 helicopters. On 29 September 2020, the German Ministry of Defense cancelled

1320-732: The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The CH-53K is powered by the General Electric GE38-1B engine, which was selected over the Pratt and Whitney Canada PW150 and a variant of the Rolls-Royce AE 1107C-Liberty used on the V-22 Osprey . Each of the three T408 engines is rated at 7,500 shp (5,600 kW), and gives the CH-53K the ability to fly 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) faster than its CH-53E predecessor. The CH-53K features

1375-568: The " Schwerer Transporthubschrauber " (STH) heavy-lifting helicopter program, it having been judged to be too expensive; instead, the CH-53Gs are still to be replaced after reexamining the project. In 2022, Germany decided to procure the CH-47F Chinook instead, citing interoperability advantages with other European NATO countries—especially the Netherlands—as well as the lower unit cost compared to

1430-536: The 2010 contract, 17 new-production helicopters were delivered by 2014. In all, Rostvertol delivered fourteen Mi-26s to domestic and foreign customers in the period 2012‑14 and six helicopters in 2015. Deliveries to the Russian Aerospace Forces were continued in 2016, 2017 and 2019. In 2016, Russia started development of PD-12V a variant of the Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofan engine to power

1485-513: The CH-53K GTV ignited its engines, spinning the rotor head without rotors attached. Low-rate production is planned to proceed from 2015 to 2017. Initial operating capability (IOC) was set to occur in 2019, with full-rate production commencing between then and 2022. The USMC intends to have eight active squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron. In April 2014, testing with blades attached began, system integration followed. Flight testing

1540-566: The CH-53K passed its Critical Design Review, reading it for test production. However, the IOC fielding date was deferred to 2018. Sikorsky proposed building four pre-production aircraft for evaluation. On 4 December 2012, Sikorsky delivered the first CH-53K, a Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) airframe. Early tests included fuel system calibration and attaching test sensors across the airframe to record temperature, aerodynamic load, pressure, and vibration. Two additional static GTVs underwent structural testing at

1595-491: The Mi-26 still holds the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale world record for the greatest mass lifted by a helicopter to 2,000 metres (6,562 ft) – 56,768.8 kilograms (125,000 lb) on a flight in 1982. In July 2010 a proposed Russian-Chinese development of a 33-ton heavy-lift helicopter was announced. In early 2019, Russia's state corporation Rostec inked a landmark agreement on developing

1650-576: The Mi-26. The developers of the Buran space vehicle programme considered using Mi-26 helicopters to "bundle" lift components for the Buran spacecraft , but test flights with a mock-up showed this to be risky and impractical. The Mi-26S was a disaster response version hastily developed during the containment efforts of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. Thirty Mi-26 were used for radiation measurements and precision drops of insulating material to cover

1705-550: The Red Crescent Society helicopters with night vision and new navigation. Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003–2004 General characteristics Performance Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era 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

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1760-458: The US Marine Corps' (USMC) "Heavy Helicopter Experimental" (HH(X)) competition begun in 1962. Sikorsky 's S-65 was selected over Boeing Vertol 's modified CH-47 Chinook version. The prototype YCH-53A first flew on 14 October 1964. It was designated CH-53A Sea Stallion , delivery of production helicopters began in 1966. The CH-53A was equipped with two T64-GE-6 turboshaft engines, and had

1815-564: The US. On 11 December 2012, a Westland Sea King from No. 330 Squadron RNoAF experienced undisclosed technical issues and made an emergency landing on Mount Divgagáisá. The landing caused parts of the landing gear to break. The Sea King was prepared by removing rotor blades and fuel before it was airlifted to Banak Air Station by a Russian Mil Mi-26 on 23   December 2012. During the 2022 Ukrainian Kharkov counteroffensive , Russian Mi-26s helicopters were involved in transfer of reinforcements on

1870-499: The USMC signed a $ 18.8 billion contract for 156 "CH-53K" helicopters, with deliveries to be completed by 2021. The USMC was to begin retiring CH-53Es in 2009, and needed replacements as rotorcraft reached their structural life limits in 2011–12. CH-53K flight testing was expected to begin in 2011. In August 2007, the USMC increased the order from 156 to 227. By that time, the first flight was planned for November 2011 with initial operating capability (IOC) by 2015. The CH-53K will be

1925-501: The USMC's heavy lift helicopter with the MV-22 (medium lift) and UH-1Y (light lift). A 2007 RAND report on seabasing found that a higher ratio of CH-53Ks to MV-22s would reduce ship-based deployment times. In 2008, design work was well underway, along with weight reduction efforts to meet operational requirements; increased engine performance and rotor blade improvements are options to help meet requirements if needed. The rotor mast tilt

1980-409: The damaged No.   4 reactor. It was also equipped with a deactivating liquid tank and underbelly spraying apparatus. The Mi-26S was operated in immediate proximity to the nuclear reactor, with a filter system and protective screens mounted in the cabin to protect the crew during delivery of construction materials to the most highly contaminated areas. In October 1999, an Mi-26 was used to transport

2035-560: The early 1970s, work began on a new heavy-lift helicopter, designated as the Izdeliye 90 ("Project 90") and later allocated designation Mi-26 . The new design was required to have an empty weight less than half its maximum takeoff weight . The helicopter was designed by Marat Tishchenko , protégé of Mikhail Mil , founder of the OKB-329 design bureau . The Mi-26 was designed to replace earlier Mi-6 and Mi-12 heavy lift helicopters and act as

2090-507: The final twin-engined H-53s, and had extensive avionics upgrades for all-weather operation. In October 1967, the USMC issued a requirement for a helicopter with a lifting capacity 1.8 times that of the CH-53D, that could fit on amphibious assault ships . Before this, Sikorsky had been working on an enhancement to the CH-53D, under the company designation "S-80", featuring a third turboshaft engine and

2145-548: The firm's Stratford manufacturing plant. In January 2013, the program had an estimated cost of US$ 23.17 billion (~$ 29.9 billion in 2023) after procurement of the planned 200 CH-53Ks. In April 2013, the U.S. Navy program manager stated that work had gone well and it may become operational ahead of schedule. On 31 May 2013, the Navy awarded Sikorsky a $ 435 million (~$ 561 million in 2023) contract to deliver four prototype CH-53Ks for evaluation and mission testing; The first two prototypes focused on structural flight loads while

2200-569: The frontline, namely in the vicinity of towns Izium and Kupiansk . In September 2024, it was announced that the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran will bring this helicopter to Iran for two months in a memorandum of understanding with a Russian company, in order to purchase two Mi-26 after that if approved. Also, an understanding has been reached for the purchase of 20 new helicopters, which, if operational, will be delivered within 2 years. The Russian side has promised to equip

2255-663: The helicopters in the former Soviet Union were built to Mil designs. Series production facilities for Mil-designed helicopters include Rostvertol in Rostov-on-Don, the Kazan Helicopter Production Association , and the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant . Mil participates in the Euromil joint venture with Eurocopter . Mil was established in 1947 under the guidance of Mikhail Mil as the helicopter laboratory of

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2310-440: The manufacturing facility to fill orders. The CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy lift helicopter, being a general redesign of the preceding CH-53E, the main improvements being the new engines and cockpit layout. It has over twice the lift capacity and radius of action of the CH-53E, and a wider cargo hold to allow it to carry a Humvee internally. A new composite rotor blade system is also used, featuring technology similar to that of

2365-439: The need to break apart pallets between airlifter and helicopter. The CH-53K is to surpass the capability of its predecessor by carrying nearly 30% more than the CH-53E's external payload of 27,000 lb (12,200 kg) over the same radius of 110 nmi (204 km). The CH-53K's payload reaches a maximum of 35,000 lb (15,900 kg). The CH-53K's maximum gross weight will be 88,000 lb (39,900 kg), which

2420-455: The new company eliminated overlapping product lines. Mi-26 The Mil Mi-26 (Russian: Миль Ми-26 , NATO reporting name : Halo ) is a Soviet / Russian heavy transport helicopter . Its product code is Izdeliye 90 . Operated by both military and civilian operators, it is the largest helicopter to have gone into serial production . Following the incomplete development of the heavier Mil Mi-12 (prototypes known as Mil V-12 ) in

2475-500: The second craft was too badly damaged to recover, the first was determined to be repairable and estimated to weigh 12 tonnes (26,000 lb) with fuel, rotors, and non-essential equipment removed. That weight exceeded the maximum payload of 9.1 tonnes (20,000 lb) at an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) of the U.S. military's Sikorsky CH-53E . The Mi-26 was located through Skylink Aviation in Toronto , which had connections with

2530-511: The third and fourth validated general performance, propulsion and avionics. Major subcontractors include Aurora Flight Sciences (main rotor pylon), Exelis Aerostructures (tail rotor pylon and sponsons), GKN Aerospace (aft transition), Onboard Systems International (external cargo hook), Rockwell Collins (avionics management system), Sanmina-SCI Corporation (communications), and Spirit AeroSystems (cockpit and cabin). In October 2013, Sikorsky gave Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

2585-444: The truck inside caused an imbalance of the helicopter and led to the crash. The Mi-26 had been carrying machines from Konkan Railway to Jammu–Baramulla line project. The Indian Air Force later retired its three remaining Mi-26s, as two needed a very expensive overhaul (quite frequent, as the machine is near the strength limits of the materials used), and there was little need for them, and decided to obtain Chinook helicopters from

2640-508: The twin-engine Mil Mi-26 's split torque gearbox weighs 8,020 lb (3,639 kg). The CH-53K has an improved external cargo handling system, survivability enhancements, and improvements to extend service life. The cabin will be 30 ft (9.14 m) long by 9 ft (2.74 m) wide by 6.5 ft (1.98 m) tall. Its cabin will be 1 ft (30 cm) wider and 15% larger, but will have new shorter composite sponsons. The CH-53K can carry two 463L master pallets , eliminating

2695-608: The type as a "very high priority" item to enable the service to perform missions only the platform is capable of. Israel's current CH-53 "Yasur" fleet is to remain operational until 2025. The CH-53K competed with the Boeing CH-47F Chinook for an order of approximately 20 helicopters to replace the CH-53 Yasur. In February 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the CH-53K's selection. On 31 December 2021, it

2750-554: Was accomplished using a non-planetary, split-torque design with quill shafts for torque equalization. The Mil Design Bureau designed the VR-26 transmission itself, due to Mil's normal gearbox supplier not being able to design such a gearbox. The gearbox housing is stamped aluminum. A split-torque design is also used in the 5,670 kg (12,500 lb) gearbox assembly on the American three-engine Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion . As of 2024 ,

2805-456: Was added. The vertical tail was also enlarged, with the tail rotor tilted upwards slightly to provide some lift in hover. The initial YCH-53E first flew in 1974. Following successful testing, the initial production contract was awarded in 1978, and service introduction followed in February 1981. The US Navy acquired the CH-53E in small numbers for shipboard resupply. The Marines and Navy acquired

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2860-458: Was announced that Israel had signed a deal to buy 12 CH-53Ks. In August 2023, Sikorsky announced they had been awarded a contract by the US Navy for 35 helicopters at a total cost of $ 2.77 billion, including eight aircraft for Israel. Japan has reportedly shown interest in the CH-53K. In February 2018, Sikorsky signed an agreement valued at around €4 billion with Rheinmetall to team up for

2915-482: Was decreased and components shifted to ensure the center of gravity does not shift too far rearward as fuel is burned. Design requirements were frozen in 2009–10. On 22 January 2010, Sikorsky opened a $ 20 million Precision Components Technology Center in Stratford, Connecticut , for producing CH-53K parts, such as the rotating and stationary swashplates , main and tail rotor hubs, and main rotor sleeves. On 3 August 2010,

2970-420: Was set to start in late 2014, each test aircraft flying approximately 500 hours over three years. The maiden flight was delayed, due to issues with the titanium quill shafts in the transmission and gear box. On 5 May 2014, General James F. Amos announced during the official rollout that it will be called the "King Stallion". On 27 October 2015, the CH-53K took its first flight. On 7 March 2018, one lifted

3025-735: Was used to bring heavy earth moving tractors to the quake-lakes at Tangjiashan mountain , located in difficult terrain and accessible only by foot or air. In July 2009, a Moldovan Mi-26 was shot down in Helmand province with the loss of six Ukrainian crew members. The aircraft, belonging to Pecotox Air , was said to be on a humanitarian mission under NATO contract. On 14 December 2010, an Indian Air Force Mi-26 crashed seconds after taking off from Jammu Airport , injuring all nine passengers. The aircraft fell from an altitude of about 15 metres (50 ft). The Indian Institute of Flight Safety released an investigation report that stated improper fastening of

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