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A STRONG OFFENSE FOR THE WORLD OF DEFENSE

June 5, 2026 For decades, the massive MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter has served as the Navy’s primary airborne mine countermeasure platform, dragging massive mine hunting sleds through waters all around the globe. However, the Sea Dragon’s days are now numbered, with the last 11 aircraft scheduled to sunset sometime next year. With the MH-53E’s demise on the horizon, we reached out to one of its former pilots, Steve Jones — a man who came to know this monster intimately during the Global War On Terror. He had plenty of stories to tell and provided us with a new understanding of the often misunderstood counter-mine mission. Read the exclusive interview here.

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From the Archive

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Hot Shots

Army Soldiers zero their M1 Abrams tank’s sighting system during gunnery training operations at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria. U.S. Army video by Spc. Thomas Madrzak

An MH-60S Sea Hawk prepares to land on the flight deck of Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Chad M. Butler

A team of Air Transportation Specialists assigned to the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor, Maine, unloads cargo from a KC-135 Stratotanker. U.S. Air Force photo