The Navy's MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter has served as the primary airborne mine countermeasure platform for decades. However, with the last 11 aircraft scheduled to be retired next year, a former pilot shares his experiences flying the massive helicopter. Steve Jones, a former MH-53E pilot, discusses the challenges of flying the aircraft and the importance of the counter-mine mission.
Jones explains that the MH-53E's mission is extremely topical due to ongoing tensions with Iran, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stating that Iran has mined parts of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Navy is transitioning to the smaller MH-60S Seahawk paired with new aerial mine countermeasures systems, but many question if the Pentagon is investing enough resources in this critical mission set. Jones shares his insights on the Navy's airborne counter-mine mission, the Sea Dragon's capabilities, and the challenges of flying the huge aircraft.
