Jerusalem, 5 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Defense Ministry signed a NIS 400 million ($128.7 million) agreement with Elbit Systems to integrate advanced Israeli systems into the Israeli Air Force’s new CH-53K “Para” transport helicopters. The package includes command and control, avionics, electronic warfare, warning systems, and DIRCM missile defense, tailored for 12 helicopters set to replace the aging Yasur fleet.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky in the US, the helicopters will undergo adaptation on a dedicated Israeli production line. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the deal “a significant step in ensuring the Air Force’s operational superiority.”