Just a CH-53 Heavy Chopper Lifting a 12-Ton Armored Vehicle

The U.S. Marine Corps is one of the most highly mobile military forces in the world. A prime example is this video, which shows a CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter lifting ground vehicles—including a 12-ton light armored vehicle—and then taking fuel from an aerial refueling tanker.

As video shows, the CH-53E is no slouch in the lifting department. It’s powered by three General Electric T64-GE-416 turboshaft engines, each producing 4,380 shaft horsepower. This gives it a lift capacity of 32,000 pounds, with a maximum takeoff weight of 73,500 pounds. The CH-53E can fly 621 miles before refueling, and can travel 57 miles carrying a 16 ton load.