While the Super Stallion certainly has its advantages, in the all-important domain of heavy-lift aviation, specifically in terms of payload capacity and versatility, the Russian bird is superior.
What is the best attack helicopter in the world? There are any number of ways that this question could be measured, and it is hard to get a straight answer that will satisfy everyone. When one poses the question to ChatGPT—as a distressing number of college students and “military experts” alike have been known to do—the AI model determines that the AH-64 Apache is the best attack helicopter in the world, and the best multirole helo is the Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk.
That’s two wins for Team America, at least according to AI. Interestingly, however, the program also states that the greatest heavy-lift helicopter in the world is the Russian-made Mil Mi-26. This is an interesting claim, and runs contrary to a generation of American defense analysts who have regarded the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion—soon to be replaced by the King Stallion—as the greatest heavy-lift chopper in service in the world today.
Yet it turns out the algorithms at ChatGPT are technically correct. The Russians possess a heavy lift helo that can perform its task significantly better than the primary American heavy lift bird can. A more detailed head-to-head comparison is therefore in order.
America’s and Russia’s Helicopters Have Different Mission Sets
Sikorsky’s CH-53E Super Stallion and the Mi-26 helicopters come from around the same time frame, during the 1980s; Sikrosky’s Super Stallion came out in 1981, while the Soviet Union first deployed the Mi-26 in 1983.
Both helos have impressive carrying capacity. The Mi-26 is powered by two Lotarev D-136 turboshaft engines, each producing 11,400 shaft horsepower (shp) with a maximum takeoff weight of 123,458 poinds (56,000 kilograms) and an empty weight of 62,170 pounds (or 28,200 kg). The Mi-26 can carry up to 82 troops or 20 metric tons (or 44,092 pounds) in its cargo hold.
On the other hand, the US military’s Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is smaller than the Mi-26. It is powered by three General Electric T64-GE-416/416A turboshaft engines, each delivering 4,380 shp, with a maximum takeoff weight of 73,414 pounds (33,300 kg) and an empty weight of 33,226 pounds (15,071 kg). Meanwhile, its cargo hold can accommodate only 55 troops, while it can carry about 29,982 pounds (13.6 metric tons) in its cargo hold.
One key element about the Super Stallion is that it must also serve on American aircraft carriers—meaning it must be slightly smaller than its Soviet and, now, Russian counterparts, which do not face this requirement. So, the Mi-26 is significantly larger and heavier. It possesses a payload capacity nearly 50 percent greater than the CH-53E Sea Stallion. What’s more, the Mi-26’s twin-engine design delivers more raw power for the Russians. But the CH-53E’s three engines provide greater redundancy and overall better performance in hot-and-high conditions. The Mi-26’s larger rotor enables superior lift, while the Super Stallion’s compact design is better suited to naval operations. But Russia’s naval power is concentrated in its submarine force, so having a helicopter that can easily conduct naval flight operations is far down on the Russian Armed Forces’ priority list.
As for speed, the Mi-26 has a maximum speed of 183 mph and range of around 497 miles with standard fuel. This can be extended with auxiliary tanks. Its service ceiling is 15,092 feet. Every resource indicates that piloting the Super Stallion at its maximum altitude is not preferable due to its size. On the other hand, the Mi-26 excels in transporting oversized cargo to remote locations, with a design optimized for operations in extreme climates—notably the frigid temperatures of the Arctic, which Russia believes to be its exclusive domain.
The Super Stallion Has Some Advantages—but Comes Up Short
America’s CH-53E has a maximum speed of 196 mph and range of 621 miles, giving it a slight advantage over its Russian rival in speed and range. Its service ceiling is 18,504 feet. And that three-engine configuration that the Super Stallion enjoys means it is better than its Russian counterpart for high-altitude operations, which is one reason it performed so ably during America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan.
Here, too, there is an interesting turn. The smaller CH-53E is faster and has a much longer range than the Russian Mi-26. Yet the Russian bird remains dominant in raw lifting power and cargo volume, meaning it is an ideal helicopter for logistics-heavy operations in distant areas of the world. And the Mi-26 fares better more generally in harsher environments than does the Sikorsky Super Stallion.
While the Super Stallion certainly has its advantages, in the all-important domain of heavy-lift aviation, specifically in terms of payload capacity and versatility, the Russian bird is superior. Then there’s the fact that the Mi-26 has been exported to over 20 countries, including India, China, and even Mexico, means that this is a very popular Russian helicopter globally. Indeed, over 300 units of the copter have been built—a testament to its staying power and popularity.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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