Israeli Air Force reopens Squadron 193 with new Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters

The Israeli Air Force has reopened Squadron 193, which operates maritime helicopters on behalf of the Israeli Navy, following the arrival of new Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk helicopters. 

A ceremony marking the squadron’s reactivation was held at Palmachim Airbase on July 28, 2026. 

The squadron had been shut down in August 2025 after the retirement of its AS565 Panther helicopters, known in Israeli service as “Atalef.” 

טייסת 193 (“מגיני המערב”) נפתחה מחדש אתמול (ג’) בטקס בבסיס פלמחים. הטייסת תפעיל את מסוק ה”שלך” (SH-60F) החדש, לביצוע משימות סיוע לחיל הים ולהרחבת המענה המבצעי במרחב הימי: https://t.co/ayCccpCnm3 pic.twitter.com/nAiWxK05ie— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) July 29, 2026 Three Seahawks, designated “Shalach” in Hebrew, have arrived in Israel so far, with two more expected by the end of the year. Two of the three are currently undergoing operational integration work at Israeli defense companies and will go through flight testing before entering service.

The SH-60F Seahawk’s edge over the Atalef

The Seahawk roughly doubles the Atalef’s range, flight endurance, and carrying capacity. 

While the Atalef carries two aircrew members and a naval reconnaissance officer, the Shalach adds a flight mechanic to that crew and can transport more than 10 troops in its cabin.

The aircraft is designed to support a range of missions, including intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, surveillance, search and rescue, and general naval support, backed by sensor systems that include maritime radar and day-and-night observation equipment. 

Squadron officials said the helicopter could also be used to insert forces into hostile territory, treat wounded troops in flight, resupply ships at sea, and help compile a broader picture of activity across the maritime domain. 

The aircraft is capable of taking off from and landing on the Navy’s Sa’ar 5 and Sa’ar 6 corvettes, with the older Sa’ar 5 vessels’ flight decks having been extended to accommodate it.

Filling a year-long gap

The retirement of the Atalef fleet left the Navy without a dedicated maritime helicopter for roughly a year, a gap that officials said reduced operational effectiveness during that period. 

Squadron 193, nicknamed “Defenders of the West,” was originally established in 1987 and has operated Dolphin and later Atalef helicopters over the decades before being deactivated at Ramat David Airbase in 2025, and now resuming operations from Palmachim Airbase as a maritime support squadron.

The squadron works in coordination with the Navy’s Missile Boat Flotilla, supporting missions such as protecting strategic assets, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and providing naval fire support.

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