The Israeli Defense Ministry signed a deal worth more than 400 million shekels (about $130 million) with Elbit Systems to integrate an Israeli-developed electronics package on heavy-lift helicopters CH-53K King Stallion.
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The contract is part of preparations for the entry into service of the CH-53K fleet, locally designated “Pereh”, which will replace the veteran Yas’ur helicopters of the Israel Defense Forces. A total of 12 aircraft will receive national command and control systems, avionics, electronic warfare, warning sensors as well as the advanced DIRCM missile defense system.
Acquisition via FMS et adaptation locale
The helicopters were acquired under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the United States government and are in production at Lockheed Martin Sikorsky in Connecticut. After assembly, the aircraft will pass through a dedicated integration line, created to adapt the standard American configuration to the operational requirements defined by the Israeli Air Force.
According to the Defense Ministry, the integration of Israeli systems will improve situational awareness in the cockpit, enable operations in difficult environmental conditions and facilitate the identification of safe landing zones as well as obstacles.
Official statements
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the agreement “marks a decisive step to strengthen the IDF and preserve the Air Force’s operational advantage for many years to come,” emphasizing the commitment to “blue and white” domestic production.
For his part, the ministry’s director general, Amir Baram, stressed that the CH-53K constitutes a central element of the multi-year acquisition program which will shape the force structure of the next decade, and that the integration of Israeli technologies demonstrates the potential of local industry on latest generation platforms.
Elbit Systems CEO Bezhalel Machlis said the systems to be integrated represent the company’s “state of the art” and have been tailored to the Air Force’s specific needs, with a particular focus on mission effectiveness and pilot safety.
Source and images: X @ElbitSystemsLtd | Lockheed Martin–Sikorsky. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
