The US Navy procured some Sikorsky MH-53Es from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) to sustain some US Navy and US Marine Corps MH-53E Sea Dragon and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters. According to the US Navy, the Oregon based Erickson Inc. performed contracted labour on the aircraft for the government from 2017 to 2020, removing and refurbishing parts.
Although it was officially reported that only four JMSDF MH-53Es (two in 2016 and two in 2017) were obtained for the reclamation of the helicopter parts, we have sightings of seven JMSDF MH-53Es that have found their way to the USA.
The Scramble Magazine database shows the following JMSDF MH-53Es and their fate:
8621 (c/n 65543) to USA for parts, seen in compound MCAS Cherry Point (NC) may18 8622 (c/n 65542) scrapped? l/n Iwakuni dec08 8623 (c/n 65540) to USA for parts, seen in compound MCAS Cherry Point (NC) may18 8624 (c/n 65548) scrapped? l/n Iwakuni oct09 8625 (c/n 65563) to USA for parts, seen at MCAS Miramar (CA) jan21 8626 (c/n 65564) 111 Kokutai w/o 6jun95 8627 (c/n 65583) dumped Iwakuni l/n may15 8628 (c/n 65585) to USA for parts, seen in compound MCAS Cherry Point (NC) may18 8629 (c/n 65586) to NAVAIR for parts, stored 309th AMARG BuNo 169603 oct20 8630 (c/n 65587) to NAVAIR for parts, stored 309th AMARG BuNo 169604 oct20 8631 (c/n 65610) to USA for parts, seen at MCAS Miramar (CA) jan21
Japanese MH-53Es in the USA