HEL I H E AV Y- L I F T E R S
Radar, ultra violet and laser warning systems
were installed to detect missile launches,
together with chaff and are dispensers.
The electronics t included a VHF FM radio,
multiband V/UHF radios plus DME, and
Mode S transponder system.
Two externally mounted 2,500 lit (549
imp gal) fuel tanks, which considerably
extend endurance to more than six hours,
are an important addition. A removable
Engine Air Particle Separator sand lter was
tted to reduce engine corrosion in desert
environments. Mountings were installed for
either MG3 7.62mm or M3M 12.7mm calibre
machine guns, requiring the side doors to
be partially redesigned, plus provision for an
M3M on the ramp.
Six airframes underwent an urgent
minor modi cation programme to GE
(German Enhanced) standard to enable
operations with the International Security
and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan
from 2002. Similar to the CH-53GS, changes
included updated communication and
navigation systems, plus tting dust lters,
chaff and are dispensers.The CH-53GA, the latest version, rst
ew in February 2010 with 40 airframes
modi ed. The variant lacks the externally
mounted tanks, but extra fuel can be carried
in the cabin. These helicopters received a
digital glass cockpit with ve multi-function
displays. They have a forward-looking
infrared capability with a nose-mounted
Selex Galileo FLIR 111 turret. A new multi-
axial automatic pilot and obstacle warning
system were installed. In addition to satellite
communications, HF, VHF and UHF radios
are carried. An Advanced Laser Threat
Alerting System (ALTAS 2QB), AN/AAR-60
missile launch detector and ALR-400 radar
warning receiver were incorporated. The
Advanced Countermeasures Dispenser
System controls the launch of ares. Digital
avionics integration has proved complex,
particularly when faults that are difficult
to resolve develop between digital and
analogue interfaces, which has impacted
eet availability. This modi cation work is
intended to extend airframe ying life from
6,000 to 10,000 hours and keep these
helicopters operational until 2030.ROLES
The versatility of the large helicopter has been
evident on numerous overseas operations, the
rst of which was in 1991 assisting Kurdish
refugees. They provided transport for UN
arms inspectors in Iraq during the 1990s and
in 1997 airlifted EU nationals from Albania
because of the collapse of the country’s
government and the resulting fear of violence.
There was signi cant CH-53G participation
in NATO operations in the former Yugoslavia
(Implementation Force/IFOR, Stabilisation
Force/SFOR and Kosovo/KFOR) between
1997 and 2007.
In Austria an avalanche on February
23, 1999, led to CH-53s assisting with the
rescue effort and returned after devastating
oods in August 2002.
Two CH-53s were dispatched in the
aftermath of an earthquake in Pakistan on
October 8, 2005. They ew to Abbottabad
from Afghanistan and were used to bring
in emergency supplies and assist recovery
operations from October 29 to February 1,- More than 100 refugees were carried
on some evacuation ights.
http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 55Main photo:
A CH-53GA over
the Swiss Alps.
HSG 64 Archive
Inset: Unit badge of
HSG 64. HSG 64