Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King
Sikorsky Aircraft · United States · first flew 1973 · helicopter
The SH-3H is the definitive multirole anti-submarine and anti-ship missile defence variant of the Sikorsky Sea King, combining ASW sensors with anti-ship missile detection capability in a programme that converted 163 existing aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.69 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Multiple sensor blisters and antenna clusters distinguish SH-3H from earlier single-role variants
- AN/APS-124 search radar dome under nose; AQS-13 dipping sonar and AN/ASQ-81 MAD equipment visible
- The most sensor-laden US Navy Sea King configuration; 163 aircraft converted from earlier marks
The profusion of sensor aerials, sonar dome blisters and the APS-124 radar under the nose give the SH-3H a more cluttered external appearance than earlier Sea Kings. The same five-bladed rotor, boat-hull fuselage and amphibious sponsons are present on all variants.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King has a length of 16.69 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.9 m (62 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 267 km/h (166 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The SH-3H was created as a conversion programme beginning around 1973, upgrading SH-3A, SH-3D and SH-3G airframes to a multirole standard combining the AQS-13 dipping sonar, AN/ASQ-81 MAD and AN/APS-124 surface-search radar with anti-ship missile defence equipment. It became the primary US Navy carrier-based ASW helicopter until the introduction of the SH-60B Seahawk.
Variants
No further variants of SH-3H; the type was succeeded by the SH-60 Seahawk family in US service from the mid-1980s onward.
Where you'll see it
US Navy HS squadrons aboard carrier air wings; final US Navy SH-3H retirement came in the mid-1990s as SH-60F replaced it in the inner-zone ASW role.
Related aircraft
- Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King
- Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
- Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
- Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe
- Kamov Ka-27 Helix
- Mi-24D (Hind-D)
- Westland Sea King HC.4 Commando
- Aérospatiale AS350 Écureuil
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