The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has finalized a contract valued at several hundred million dollars with Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, for the integration of specialized mission systems and equipment tailored for the Israeli Air Force (IAF) into 12 CH-53K “Pere” helicopters.
Currently, the assembly of all 12 CH-53K helicopters for the IAF is taking place at Sikorsky’s headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut, as part of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement established between the IMOD and the US Government several years ago. These new helicopters are intended to replace the IAF’s existing “Yas’ur” helicopters.
As part of the mission systems contract, Sikorsky will establish a dedicated production line to modify each aircraft from the standard configuration used by the US Marine Corps to meet the specific operational requirements of the IAF. Furthermore, Sikorsky will incorporate avionics, navigation systems, and electronic warfare capabilities provided by the IMOD.
The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy-lift transport helicopter and represents an advancement of the CH-53 series, which has been operational since 1966. The King Stallion is equipped with three enhanced engines, each providing 7,500 shp (5,590 kW), along with new composite rotor blades and a more spacious cabin compared to earlier models. It holds the distinction of being the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military.
