TSAMTO, January 10. On December 30, the Israeli Defense Ministry signed a letter with an offer to purchase 12 CH-53K King Stallion heavy transport helicopters for the country's Air Force.
At the same time, two multi-purpose tanker vehicles KC-46 were ordered.
The cost of supplying helicopters is estimated at $2 billion. The contract will include an option to supply six additional "King Stallion".
The agreement is the result of a lengthy negotiation process. During the preparatory period, the Israeli Air Force Command visited the United States several times to evaluate helicopters, including familiarization flights with the participation of Israeli pilots. CH-53K, first of all, will be used to support the actions of the Special Operations Forces of the Israeli Armed Forces. The purchase will also allow for the transportation of troops and cargo, search and rescue operations.
The CH-53K is designed to replace the modified CH-53D Yasur helicopters of the Israeli Air Force, whose service life exceeds 50 years.
Under the terms of the agreement, the first deliveries of CH-53K helicopters are scheduled for 2025. In addition to helicopters, the agreement provides for the supply of T408-GE-400 engines, spare parts, auxiliary and test equipment, technical documentation, design and construction of infrastructure facilities, crew training and maintenance services.
Currently, the CH-53K program is at the stage of initial military testing and evaluation. The helicopters should reach the stage of initial readiness for combat use in early 2022. The first deployment of the fleet of these helicopters is planned for 2024 f.g.
As reported by TSAMTO, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced its decision to purchase the CH-53K King Stallion helicopters of Lockheed Martin Corporation in February 2021, preferring them to the proposed Boeing CH-47F Chinook. They are necessary to replace the obsolete CH-53D Yasur, which have been in service since the late 1960s, stationed at the Tel Nof airbase.
The CH-53 Yasur is the main helicopter used by the Israeli Armed Forces to transport troops and cargo, as well as to conduct search and rescue operations. Currently, the Israeli Air Force has 23 CH-53 helicopters.
In July 2021, the US State Department approved the potential supply of up to 18 CH-53K heavy helicopters, as well as related equipment, weapons and services to Israel under the Foreign Military Sales program. The total cost of the sale may amount to $3.4 billion.
In November 2021, the Israeli government's interministerial committee in charge of defense procurement approved the allocation of $2.4 billion for the purchase of new CH-53K King Stallion heavy helicopters in the United States.
