Israel has completed an upgrade programme covering its air force fleet of Sikorsky CH-53 heavy-lift rotorcraft.
Launched in 2006, the enhancement work is designed to the keep the “Yasur” helicopters flying until 2025.
Modifications include the addition of new mission systems and avionics, as well protection and treatment of the airframe.
Israel Defense Forcea
Tel Aviv has previously sought to acquire Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotors as a potential replacement for its CH-53s, but budget restrictions have delayed any contract.
Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database lists the service as operating a total of 23 of the US-built type.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
