How CH-53K Pere Helicopter Triples Israel’s Transport Power and Reshapes Its Air Force
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On August 14, 2025, the Israeli Air Force announced that the cockpit and cabin sections of the first CH-53K Pere had been received by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The arrival of these two sections marks the start of production of the 12 heavy-lift helicopters ordered by Israel, designed specifically to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Defense and the IAF. The first aircraft is expected to arrive in Israel in 2028, nearly sixty years after the CH-53D Yasur entered service in 1969. The Pere will deliver substantially increased performance, with three times the payload capacity of the Yasur, improved speed and range, enhanced survivability, and simplified maintenance.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The CH-53K Pere, the future heavy-lift helicopter of the Israeli Air Force, is designed to triple the transport capacity of the current fleet. (Picture source: IAF)
The CH-53K, known in the United States as the King Stallion, will replace the IAF’s aging CH-53D Yasur fleet, which has been in service since the late 1960s. Under the agreement with the Ministry of Defense, the first two helicopters are scheduled for delivery in 2028, with operational introduction to be completed by 2030. The Pere will be capable of carrying a maximum payload of 35 tons, reaching a cruise speed of 310 km/h with a range of over 800 km. Its enlarged cabin allows for the transport of both troops and light armored vehicles, while three General Electric T408 engines, each producing 7,500 horsepower, provide the power required for heavy-lift operations in demanding environments.
Industrial cooperation between the United States and Israel plays a central role in the program. Once the mechanical assembly is completed, each helicopter will be transferred to a dedicated integration line in the United States, where Israel’s Elbit Systems will install navigation, communications, and electronic warfare systems. This separate contract, valued at several hundred million dollars, raises the unit cost of each aircraft to more than 200 million dollars, making it one of the most expensive platforms ever procured by the IAF. While this additional process slightly delays the helicopters’ final delivery to Israel, it is expected to shorten the time needed to achieve operational readiness. The integration of electronic warfare suites, countermeasures, and active protection equipment is intended to enhance survivability against modern air defense threats, while ensuring interoperability with Israeli forces.
The IAF initially considered acquiring 18 helicopters, but the current budget only funded 12. Six additional units may be ordered later, depending on force structure requirements and lessons learned from recent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Until the Pere enters service, the Yasur fleet will continue operating despite its advanced age. By 2030, these helicopters will be nearly sixty years old, having already undergone two major modernization and life-extension programs.
Israel remains the only foreign customer to have selected the CH-53K. Originally developed for the United States Marine Corps, the platform was also evaluated by Germany and Japan, though Berlin ultimately opted for Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook. This makes Israel the first foreign operator of the helicopter within the framework of its close defense-industrial partnership with the United States.
According to Dana Piattone, Sikorsky vice president for Marine Corps programs, the CH-53K is designed as a next-generation platform capable of easily integrating digital applications and modular technologies for missions ranging from troop transport to heavy logistics. Its reinforced protection, electronic countermeasures, and fly-by-wire digital cockpit place it within the category of systems prepared for high-intensity operational environments. This adaptability is expected to allow Israel to align its airlift capabilities with evolving regional requirements.
Through this program, Israel is acquiring a capability that will increase the mobility and resilience of its armed forces in a security environment characterized by multiple threats. The gradual transition from the Yasur to the Pere reflects both continuity and renewal in a critical mission set, while underscoring the importance of industrial cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington. The introduction of the CH-53K Pere represents a new stage for the IAF, which will be equipped with a modern heavy-lift helicopter adapted to the operational challenges of the next decade.
{loadposition bannertop}
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On August 14, 2025, the Israeli Air Force announced that the cockpit and cabin sections of the first CH-53K Pere had been received by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The arrival of these two sections marks the start of production of the 12 heavy-lift helicopters ordered by Israel, designed specifically to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Defense and the IAF. The first aircraft is expected to arrive in Israel in 2028, nearly sixty years after the CH-53D Yasur entered service in 1969. The Pere will deliver substantially increased performance, with three times the payload capacity of the Yasur, improved speed and range, enhanced survivability, and simplified maintenance.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The CH-53K Pere, the future heavy-lift helicopter of the Israeli Air Force, is designed to triple the transport capacity of the current fleet. (Picture source: IAF)
The CH-53K, known in the United States as the King Stallion, will replace the IAF’s aging CH-53D Yasur fleet, which has been in service since the late 1960s. Under the agreement with the Ministry of Defense, the first two helicopters are scheduled for delivery in 2028, with operational introduction to be completed by 2030. The Pere will be capable of carrying a maximum payload of 35 tons, reaching a cruise speed of 310 km/h with a range of over 800 km. Its enlarged cabin allows for the transport of both troops and light armored vehicles, while three General Electric T408 engines, each producing 7,500 horsepower, provide the power required for heavy-lift operations in demanding environments.
Industrial cooperation between the United States and Israel plays a central role in the program. Once the mechanical assembly is completed, each helicopter will be transferred to a dedicated integration line in the United States, where Israel’s Elbit Systems will install navigation, communications, and electronic warfare systems. This separate contract, valued at several hundred million dollars, raises the unit cost of each aircraft to more than 200 million dollars, making it one of the most expensive platforms ever procured by the IAF. While this additional process slightly delays the helicopters’ final delivery to Israel, it is expected to shorten the time needed to achieve operational readiness. The integration of electronic warfare suites, countermeasures, and active protection equipment is intended to enhance survivability against modern air defense threats, while ensuring interoperability with Israeli forces.
The IAF initially considered acquiring 18 helicopters, but the current budget only funded 12. Six additional units may be ordered later, depending on force structure requirements and lessons learned from recent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Until the Pere enters service, the Yasur fleet will continue operating despite its advanced age. By 2030, these helicopters will be nearly sixty years old, having already undergone two major modernization and life-extension programs.
Israel remains the only foreign customer to have selected the CH-53K. Originally developed for the United States Marine Corps, the platform was also evaluated by Germany and Japan, though Berlin ultimately opted for Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook. This makes Israel the first foreign operator of the helicopter within the framework of its close defense-industrial partnership with the United States.
According to Dana Piattone, Sikorsky vice president for Marine Corps programs, the CH-53K is designed as a next-generation platform capable of easily integrating digital applications and modular technologies for missions ranging from troop transport to heavy logistics. Its reinforced protection, electronic countermeasures, and fly-by-wire digital cockpit place it within the category of systems prepared for high-intensity operational environments. This adaptability is expected to allow Israel to align its airlift capabilities with evolving regional requirements.
Through this program, Israel is acquiring a capability that will increase the mobility and resilience of its armed forces in a security environment characterized by multiple threats. The gradual transition from the Yasur to the Pere reflects both continuity and renewal in a critical mission set, while underscoring the importance of industrial cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington. The introduction of the CH-53K Pere represents a new stage for the IAF, which will be equipped with a modern heavy-lift helicopter adapted to the operational challenges of the next decade.
