The Israeli Air Force is planning to produce its own version of the American CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter, according to Defense News.com. The program will keep the fleet flying for another 15 years. The Air Force is both the prime contractor and producer of the helicopter, according to Major Avichai Socher.
The first prototype of the upgraded CH-53 will begin flight testing this month. Israeli companies are providing the equipment for the choppers "Practically, it’s a new helicopter capable of performing multiple missions much more effectively," Socher said.
The upgrading includes self-protection systems and safety features to help prevent accidents. The helicopter model was involved in several tragedies, including attacks by Hizbullah in the Second Lebanon War and in a midair collision in 1997.