American-Made, Israeli-Enhanced: New Helicopters to Feature Advanced Systems

The Ministry of Defense announced this evening (Monday) that as part of a new deal signed with Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky, advanced Israeli systems will be integrated into 12 new CH-53K helicopters, which will henceforth be called ‘Pereh’ meaing, wild or agile. The helicopters are set to replace the aging Yas’ur helicopters, with the current deal estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Production Process Already Begun, Customized for Israel

The production process of the helicopters has already begun at the company’s facilities in Connecticut, USA, and the next phase will involve setting up a dedicated installation line that will allow for the adaptation of the American version to systems developed in Israel. As part of the signed contract, Sikorsky will integrate a systems package that includes avionics, navigation, and electronic warfare, all tailored to the operational requirements defined by the Air Force.

The helicopters were purchased as part of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal between Israel and the U.S. government, which was signed several years ago, and the Israeli integration phase is now underway. The systems will be provided by the Ministry of Defense and will be installed on the helicopters before they enter active service.