Originally requested by the US Navy as their main Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) helicopter but also used in the most common heavy-lift transport role. Beside retaining the in-flight refueling probe it has big enlarged sponsons to provide greater fuel storage. 47 delivered from 1986 and was also fielded by the Marines years later.
MH-53E Sea Dragon News
CH-53E KRACEn Contract for Erickson, 23-Apr-20 : #KRACEn Erickson awarded a 10-year long contract known as kits, aircraft recovery, augmentation, components and engines (KRACEn) for depot level support to the US Navy/Marines H-53E fleet
AQS-24C Mine Hunting System, 12-Feb-19 : #mines Northrop Grumman delivered first AQS-24C upgraded hunting mining systems to the US Navy to be used by MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters
$717 Million Contract for CH/MH-53E Support, 05-Nov-18 : #H53E Sikorsky awarded $717 million contract fo performance-based logistics of Marines CH-53E Super Stallion and Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon fleets
Osprey and Sea Dragon on HMS Queen Elizabeth, 11-Oct-18 : #HMSQE Part of her first flight trials (Westlant 18) underway in U.S. eastern coast, HMS Queen Elizabeth received an MV-22B Osprey and a MH-53E Sea Dragon on board
MH-53E Minesweeping Systems Overhaul, 27-Aug-18 : #SeaDragon Technical Systems Integration Inc awarded $10M contract for overhaul of catamaran hydrofoil platforms MK-105 for magnetic minesweeping used by the US Navy’ MH-53 Sea Dragon