Sunday, November 23, 2008

H-46 Sea Knight

IOC: 1964

CH-46E Sea Knight

IOC: 1978

Origin
United States of America

Contractor/s
Boeing

Applications
LHA 1 Tarawa
LHD 1 Wasp
LPD 17 San Antonio
LSD 49 Harpers Ferry

Family Members
CH-46D Sea Knight

Power plant:
T58-GE-16 (2)
TF58-GE-16A (2)

Guns & Missile Launchers:
M3M

Protection Systems:
AN/ALQ-157

Description: CH-46 Sea Knight was developed by Boeing to meet the US Marine Corps (USMC) requirements for a medium-lift helicopter as a replacement for the UH-34. In 1964 Boeing delivered the first two three-blade rotor CH-46A aircraft powered by two T58-GE-8 engines rated at 1,250-shp each. In 1968 H-46 production model was the CH-46D which was powered by two more powerful T58-GE-10 engines rated at 1,400-shp each.

In 1978 the USMC took delivery of the first CH-46E Sea Knight aircraft which was the result of upgrading existing D models to the new standard. The CH-46E Sea Knight was powered by two T58-GE-16 engines rated at 1,870-shp each. Currently, CH-46E is the only H-46 model operated by the USMC. The US Navy also ordered the H-46 aircraft under the UH-46 designation. The USMC CH-46A and CH-46D models were delivered to the US Navy as the UH-46A and UH-46D.

US Navy's H-46 helicopter primary mission is shipboard delivery of personnel and cargo. The USMC CH-46E Sea Knight provides all-weather, day/night assault transport of combat troops operating from the US Navy's carriers, amphibious ships and landing docks anywhere in the world. Transport of supplies and equipment is a secondary task for the USMC. H-46 is flexible enough to conduct additional missions such as search and rescue, medical evacuation, etc.

In the late 1980s the USMC CH-46E fleet was retrofitted with the Safety, Reliability and Maintainability modification kit provided by Boeing. In the 1990s the USMC also ordered additional modifications applied to the engines, flotation system, etc aimed at extending the aircraft's service life well into the 21st century. As of December 2005, the USMC has firms commitments to procure 360 MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft as a replacement for the CH-46E helicopter.

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 4, Passengers 22

Dimensions: Height 5.1 m, Length 25.7 m, Width 4.5 m

Weights: Max Weight 11,000 kg (24,250 lb), Payload 2,270 kg (5,004 lb)

Performance: Ceiling 3,050 m (10,007 ft), Max Range 297 km (160 nm), Top Speed 75 mps (270 kph)

Power: Power 3,740 shp

Other: Main Rotor Blades 3, Number of Engines 2

News
CH-46E Helicopter to Receive Directional Infrared Countermeasures

Operators

United States of America

Image Gallery

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Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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