Israel and US negotiate on CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter numbers
A CH-53K takes flight during a test exercise at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach, Florida facility (Photo: USMC)
Next steps for Israel's CH-53K King Stallion order are likely to include a final fleet number being confirmed by negotiating parties.
The Israeli MoD and US government have entered into negotiations to determine the exact number of Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion helicopters that will be delivered to the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
Israel has signed on as the launch export customer for the in-development USMC heavy-lift aircraft after Sikorsky edged out Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook.
An order for the King Stallion was first approved by Benny Gantz, Israel’s defence minister, on 25 February 2021 but an aircraft quantity was not disclosed at the time.
The US State Department went on to approve a request from Tel Aviv, by way of a FMS
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![US Army command’s Picatinny CLIK common lethal drone interface makes progress]()
US Army command’s Picatinny CLIK common lethal drone interface makes progress
The Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit is designed to overcome the issue of unique integration methods between lethal payloads and drones as well as avoiding problematic acquisition conditions created by vendor lock.
-
![Australia invests extra A$1.4 billion in MQ-28A Ghost Bat after successful missile fire test]()
Australia invests extra A$1.4 billion in MQ-28A Ghost Bat after successful missile fire test
The investment includes new contracts for six MQ-28A Ghost Bat aircraft, as well as provisional funds to invest in the development of a Block 3 prototype.
-
![US approves potential $4.7 billion missile and air defence system sales to Denmark and Italy]()
US approves potential $4.7 billion missile and air defence system sales to Denmark and Italy
Italy could field the JASSM-ER for its combat aircraft including the F-35, while Denmark has been approved for AMRAAM and an Integrated Battle Command system procurement.
-
![Northrop Grumman to fly new Project Talon CCA by late 2026]()
Northrop Grumman to fly new Project Talon CCA by late 2026
The newly unveiled collaborative combat aircraft looks to strike a balance between capability and cost-effectiveness, according to the company.
-
![MBDA and Lockheed move closer to F-35A Meteor flight tests]()
MBDA and Lockheed move closer to F-35A Meteor flight tests
Following the completion of successful ground tests, one more exercise remains before flight testing can begin.
-
![Brazilian Air Force conducts first live fire of Meteor missile from Gripen E]()
Brazilian Air Force conducts first live fire of Meteor missile from Gripen E
The major milestone for the beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile was conducted in November and expands the capabilities of the air force’s growing Gripen E fleet.
