SH-3 Sea King

Summary

Category	Helicopter
Origin country	🇺🇸 United States
First flight	11 March 1959
Year introduced	1961
Number produced	1300 units
Average unit price	$25 million

Description

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is a military aircraft that was developed with multiple roles in mind. It was initially designed in the early 1950s to serve as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter for the United States Navy. Over time, the aircraft's adaptability led to its use in various missions, including search and rescue, logistics support, and mine countermeasures. It saw deployment on both naval ships and land bases, and was known for its ruggedness and reliability. Despite being a relatively older aircraft, the SH-3 Sea King remained in service with various countries throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

Technical specifications

Version: SH-3H
Crew	1 pilot + 1 copilot et 1 skipper
Operational range	965 km (600 mi)
Maximum speed	267 km/h (166 mph)
Wingspan	19 m (62.3 ft)
Height	5.1 m (16.8 ft)
Length	16.7 m (54.8 ft)
Service ceiling	4481 m (14701 ft)
Empty weight	5382 kg (11865 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	10002 kg (22051 lbs)
Climb rate	11.1 m/s (36.4 ft/s)
Powerplant	2 × turbines General Electric T58-GE-10 delivering 1044 kW

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	India	31
	Egypt	23
	Pakistan	19
	Tunisia	15
	Iran	8
	Peru	7
	Argentina	6
	Ukraine	3

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

Argentina • Brazil • Denmark • Egypt • Indonesia • India • Ireland • Iran • Japan • Libya • Malaysia • Pakistan • Peru • Tunisia • Ukraine • United States

Armament

Bombs payload:

Thermonuclear B57 Mod 1