The Israeli Ministry of Defense Mission to the U.S. signed an agreement (LOA) with the US government for the purchase of 12 Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift cargo helicopters. The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter currently being produced by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Government of Israel – Ministry of Defense – Mission to the U.S. is the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MOD) purchasing office located in New York City. The Mission was established to achieve the procurement goals set by the Government of Israel – Ministry of Defense consistent with the regulations of the U.S. Government.
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 18 examples of the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter to the Government of Israel. The total estimated cost is $3.4 billion. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Global, Inc., Shelton, Connecticut; and General Electric Company, Lynn, Massachusetts. The U.S. is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.
The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to eighteen (18) CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters; up to sixty (60) T408-GE-400 Engines (54 installed, 6 spares); and up to thirty-six (36) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM). Also included is communication equipment; GAU-21 .50 caliber Machine Guns; Mission Planning System; facilities study, spare parts; test equipment; publications documentation; maintenance training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services.
The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter currently being produced by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The design features three 7,500 shp (5,590 kW) engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin than previous CH-53 variants. It will be the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military. The USMC plans to receive 200 helicopters at a total cost of $25 billion. Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) testing started in April 2014; flight testing began with the maiden flight on 27 October 2015. In May 2018, the first CH-53K was delivered to the Marine Corps.
The procurement of these platforms is part of a wider MOD program to strengthen the capabilities of the IDF and preparedness to face current and developing threats.
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) December 31, 2021
