7-Aug-2017 Source: HeliHub.com
Israeli is looking to modernizing their heavy-lift helicopter fleet by replacing their CH-53 Yasur helicopters. The fleet has been in service for over 50 years and although they have recently been upgraded, a replacement is needed. The money for the replacement will come from the MoU of $38 billion signed in 2016 between Washington and Jerusalem.
The two main competitors for the contract is Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook and Lockheed’s CH-53K King Stallion. The King Stallion costs $87 million a unit and has three engines that allow it to reach cruising speeds of 261 km/h and has a range of 852 km. It fits a crew of five, has fitted weapons, ballistic protection and retracting landing gear, reports JPost.
The Chinook is considerably less expensive, coming to a unit of cost $38.55 million. It has a full digital system and twin engines that enable it to a cruising speed of 291 km/h and a range of 370 km.