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.
21-Mar-25 - U.S. Navy Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron HM-12, the Sea Dragons, was decommissioned at Naval Air Station Norfolk after 54 years of service, leaving HM-15 as the last squadron to operate the Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon #SeaDragon
14-Dec-22 - US Navy decommissioning Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron HM-14 “Vanguard” after 45 years of service flying the Sikorsky RH-53D Stallion and the MH-53E Sea Dragon models #Vanguards
08-Nov-21 - Partnership between US Navy Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) in Cherry Point, NC and Sikorsky is helping meet needs for critical parts for CH-53E Super Stallion and MH-53E Sea Dragon heavy-lift helicopters #CriticalParts
26-Sep-21 - US Navy Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron HM-12 MH-53E Sea Dragon conducted aerial firefighting training with Bambi Bucket at Norfolk, VA #firefighting
06-Apr-21 - US Navy/Marines Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) improving maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) times for the H-53 heavy lift helicopter #H53