As the most significant military force globally, the United States Department of Defense has many essential tasks to perform. Tasks such as logistics, combat, and more.
To get their homework done, they use these military cargo helicopters. It helps the military get the job done, no matter how difficult the assignment.
These military cargo helicopters will ensure you always arrive at your destination, whether carrying supplies, engaging in battle, or performing search and rescue missions.
They will get there on time and ready to complete your task. Please take a look at our list below!
Military Cargo Helicopters
1. CH-47 Chinook
First on our list of cargo military helicopters is the CH-47 Chinook. It can carry multiple troops and heavy artillery.
Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook has been a go-to helicopter for military and humanitarian operations for decades.
Also, they possess an impressive range of 3,100 miles without refueling. These military cargo helicopters can carry up to 38,000 pounds of cargo across vast distances.
It is used by militaries worldwide, including in Canada and Israel.
2. UH-60 Black Hawk
The Sikorsky aircraft manufactured the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. This is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter.
Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army’s Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition in 1972.
Also, the Army designated the prototype as the YUH-60A and selected it for production in 1974. This was after a competitive fly-off against Boeing’s YUH-61A.
It was named after American Civil War General Samuel Davis Stivers, Jr. It was first flown on October 14, 1975.
The deliveries of production helicopters began in March 1978 to operational test and evaluation units. Production deliveries were to follow, with UTTAS scheduled for completion by 1980.
3. CH-53E Super Stallion
In terms of sheer size, nothing beats a CH-53E Super Stallion. This massive cargo helicopter has been featured in films and video games, and it’s easy to see why.
There aren’t many other aircraft that can carry a whole tank in their cargo bay.
Seven different militaries around the world use the Super Stallion. It’s been designated as an International Common Aircraft (ICA) by NATO.
As its name suggests, it excels at carrying heavy loads and moving people around. Its capacity ranges from 28 soldiers to 19,000 pounds of cargo.
You can count on one of these military cargo helicopters if you need something delivered across the water.
4. MV-22 Osprey
The MV-22 Osprey is an aircraft with dual rotors and no tail rotor. The aircraft can take off vertically like a helicopter. It converts to flying at high speeds like a fixed-wing plane.
Marines first used Ospreys in combat during Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn.
This gives pilots increased capabilities and flexibility in flight operations.
5. SA330 Puma
Euro copter manufactures the SA330 Puma. It is a medium-weight, twin-engine utility helicopter.
It is used by over 30 nations and in military roles, where it was given designations H-2 and H-3.
However, NATO operates it as one of the standard military cargo helicopters.
These variants can also act as gunships with pintle mounts for light weapons. Many are equipped to perform search and rescue missions.
The French Air Force uses an electronic surveillance version of the Puma named Scénichelonneur.
They use it to gather electronic signals from mobile units on the tactical ground or naval missions. The French Army uses a modified version of it called AS332 Super Puma.
6. AgustaWestland AW101
The AgustaWestland Merlin is a three-engine, medium-sized utility helicopter developed by a joint venture between Italy’s Agusta and Britain’s Westland.
It entered service with both nations’ armed forces in 2004 and exported to Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and Poland.
The helicopter has an internal capacity of 12 troops and a maximum external load of 5,000 pounds (2,300 kilograms), which can be split among its four external hook points.
A U.S.-built version for special operations is known as MH-60G Pave Hawk; it is used by all branches of American military services, including special operators under the Air Force Special Operations Command.
7. Bell V – 280 Valor
The Bell V-280 Valor is a tiltrotor military aircraft being developed by Bell Helicopter in cooperation with Lockheed Martin for use by the United States Army as a medium-lift utility helicopter.
The development of a new military tiltrotor aircraft was announced in January 2013.
In June 2016, it was announced that its designation had been changed to V-247.
On November 24, 2017, an unpowered first flight occurred at Fort Worth, Texas; full certification and fielding are planned for 2019 or 2020.
8. Mi – 26 Halo
Soviet Union/Russia, twin-engine heavy-lift aircraft. Mi-17 Halo: Soviet Union/Russia, medium-lift and military transport helicopter.
NH 90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH): West Germany/Italy, multirole ship-based helicopter for fleet defense, search and rescue, maritime surveillance, and humanitarian aid.
Sikorsky S-92: the United States of America is a wide-range utility helicopter with rear ramp loading capabilities.
V-22 Osprey: the United States of America, tiltrotor heavy-lift cargo aircraft used by US Marines.
Other militaries, such as Italy and Australia’s Royal Navy Merlin HC4, also use the ICH. The United Kingdom’s naval version of AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin medium-lift helicopter.
9. Kamov Ka – 60
The Ka-60 is a twin-engine, coaxial-rotor helicopter for personnel and cargo transport.
It can be used for search and rescue missions, medevac operations, emergency delivery of humanitarian aid to remote locations, transportation of VIPs to theaters of operation, aerial surveys, and patrol. The Ka-60 has a maximum speed of 300 km/h.
A unique feature of the helicopter is its hybrid control system, which allows it to perform functions as both an attack and an assault transport machine.
It carries up to 4 combat troops or stretchers or two stretchers with medical staff and four crew members (pilot, co-pilot/navigator, and two technicians).
This helicopter can be accommodated in external side seats facing sideways.
10. Eurocopter AS565 Panther
These twin-engine multipurpose helicopters have become a fixture of military cargo operations.
Panther and its predecessor, Super Puma/Cougar, are widely deployed in Afghanistan and carry soldiers and supplies into remote forward operating bases.
Their versatility is demonstrated by other missions such as search and rescue (SAR), troop transport, external load operations, and special operations support.
The Panther has seen action with militaries around the world. Known operators include Australia, Brazil, Germany, and France.
Eurocopter delivered more than 100 aircraft to 25 countries in 2010 alone. About 20 percent of production from its Marignane facility is earmarked for export sales.
11. V-22 Osprey
Also known as the tiltrotor, it is a hybrid aircraft that combines vertical takeoff, hover, and landing with short takeoff and landing.
In cargo configuration, each nacelle can carry 9,000 pounds of gear. The Osprey has been in service since 2007 and has an operating range of more than 500 miles.
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk: Built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., owns Pratt & Whitney jet engines, and commercial helicopters are flown commercially around the world.
The Black Hawk first entered service in 1979. When a cockpit upgrade was added in 1996, it was redesignated UH-60L.
12. Eurocopter EC725
The Eurocopter EC725 is a twin-engine, medium-sized multirole military helicopter based on Airbus’s civilian Super Puma/Cougar AS565 aircraft, first introduced in 2008.
The Eurocopter EC725 serves European countries and Australia. It has a payload capacity of 7,000 pounds.
The Eurocopter EC725 can carry out various missions, including combat search and rescue, firefighting, and special operations support.
This military cargo helicopter has an operational range of 346 miles. However, it can travel up to 485 miles if equipped with additional fuel tanks.
It is powered by two LHTEC T800 turboshaft engines made by Honeywell Aerospace, each providing 1,674 horsepower.
13. Aerospatiale Gazelle
The Aerospatiale Gazelle is one of many helicopters in service with various militaries worldwide. There are two major variants: one for transport and one for combat.
The transport version has a holding capacity of more than 12,000 pounds; its closest competitor can only hold 6,500 pounds.
It’s also significantly more fuel-efficient; with a maximum cruising speed of 120 miles per hour, it can easily cover great distances with minimal downtime.
The combat variant comes equipped with a 20mm Gatling gun to handle multiple targets and two side-mounted automatic grenade launchers to handle short-range small threats.
14. Sikorsky H – 92 Superhawk
The Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk, also known as S-92, is a twin-turbine helicopter developed by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. This aircraft is used for transporting military cargo and equipment.
It can also be used for other purposes such as medevac, search and rescue missions, and electronic newsgathering.
In total, 60 of these aircraft have been produced, with orders placed from numerous countries worldwide.
Production was started in 1997, with deliveries commencing in 1998. The United States Air Force (USAF) ordered 13 Superhawks to replace their aging fleet of Lockheed C–130 Hercules transport planes.
Six of these were delivered by early 2011 but were never deployed due to budget cuts at the Pentagon, eliminating funding for five of them being employed.
15. HAL Dhruv
The HAL Dhruv is India’s first modern military helicopter. In Bangalore, India, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited designed and built the Dhruv.
Several military forces worldwide adopted it primarily for tactical transport and utility missions.
It comes in three variants: anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance/electronic intelligence (ELINT), and troop transport.
The ASW variant has a search radar mounted on a mast atop its fuselage.
China operates both variants of Dhruv helicopters; 50 out of 55 were assembled at China’s Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation factory in Liuzhou, Guangxi province.
16. NHIndustries NH90
The NH-90, built by a partnership between Airbus and Eurocopter (now known as Airbus Helicopters), is used to transport troops and supplies onto battlefields.
The helicopter has an average speed of 130 miles per hour, can stay in flight for up to six hours, and carries up to 11,000 pounds of cargo.
It can also travel 2,000 miles without needing refueling. The NH-90 has been used extensively by German and Italian armed forces since its inception in 1996, but it wasn’t until 2004 that it became fully operational with France’s Air Force.
Technical issues hampered its development for much of its life cycle. Nevertheless, it remains one of Europe’s most capable cargo helicopters.
