Data Quality87%
01 / Overview
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1964–1971
Quantity
46
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS · COLD WAR
59
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
78
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the utility / transport helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight1958
- Service Entry Year1964
- Crew3
- Passengers25
- Primary RoleMedium-lift assault and cargo transport
- In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant8MOD.8
- Engine TypeGeneral Electric T58-GE-16
- Number of Engines2
- Engine Power (each)932 kW
- Transmission Rating1,491 kW
- Rotor ConfigurationTandem rotors
- Main Rotor Diameter15.24 m
- Main Rotor Blades6
- Anti-Torque TypeNo tail rotor (tandem rotors)
▣Performance10MOD.10
- Top Speed265 km/h
- Cruise Speed222 km/h
- Never-Exceed Speed (VNE)270 km/h
- Service Ceiling5,090 m
- Hover Ceiling (IGE)2,440 m
- Hover Ceiling (OGE)1,830 m
- Range998 km
- Ferry Range1,100 km
- Rate of Climb7.2 m/s
- Endurance180
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Fuselage Length13.67 m
- Height5.1 m
- Rotor Disc Area361.6
- Empty Weight5,240 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight11,000 kg
- Useful Load5,760 kg
- Cabin Volume18.8
◆Armament & Mission5MOD.5
- Hardpoints0
- Weapons Payload3,400 kg
- Gun.50-cal M2 Browning
- Sling Load Capacity3,175 kg
- Rescue HoistYes
▤Avionics6MOD.6
⬢Survivability6MOD.6
▲Production2MOD.2
- Total Built524
- Variants10
◎Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year2015
- Production Start1962
- Production End1971
- Operational StatusRetired from USMC in 2015, limited service elsewhere
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1964Production started
- 1971Production ended
- 1978First deployment: Somali Civil War
62
years in service
7
years in production
46
units produced
6
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
BOEING VERTOL CH-46 SEA KNIGHT · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries6country
06 / MASS Score
UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS RANKING Utility / Transport Helicopters · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
185UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS59COLD WAR · UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS2227UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS144PERFORMANCE/PRICE · UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theUtility / Transport Helicopterscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE3terms
Autopilot/AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) is an avionics suite that automatically controls a helicopter’s attitude, navigation and flight path, providing stability augmentation and reducing pilot workload.
Seats designed to absorb crash forces, reducing injury to occupants.
A mechanical device used to lift personnel or cargo via a cable, typically mounted on helicopters for rescue or recovery operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources