THE ISRAELI air force is planning to re-engine its 40 Bell AH-1G/S Cobra attack helicopters with the General Electric GE T700 engine.
A prototype of the re-engined helicopter is being prepared by Mata, the helicopter division of Israel Aircraft Industries, which won a contract to perform the programme.
The air force has decided to replace the original Avro-Lycoming T53 engines with the advanced GE T700 powerplant to improve the performance. It will also give engine commonality with its McDonnell Douglas AH-64A Apache and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Source: Flight International