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  • Writer's pictureBy The Financial District

ISRAEL’S $2B FUTURE TRANSPORT CHOPPER ALLERGIC TO DUST

The US military is limiting the use of its new transport helicopter, Lockheed Martin’s CH-53K, after the discovery of a major engine defect but Israel is pushing to get 20 of the same Lockheed-Martin helicopters, Avi Bar-Eli reported for Haaretz.

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According to a US Navy report, a 21-minute exposure to dusty conditions reduced the performance of the chopper’s engine to a level that was “under the acceptable minimum.” The helicopter will now only be limited to 70 seconds flights, effectively scrapping its operational functionality, Eli added.


Besides the impact on the US military, the news is an embarrassment to Israel, which just last week approved an order of 20 of the helicopters costing $2.25 billion through US military aid.


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According to The Drive, the US Navy alone has already ordered 200 CH-53K helicopters, raising concerns about a significant blow to its operational capabilities, assuming the order is rescinded. Additional tests could also delay further deliveries for a long time.


The CH-53K won a drawn-out bid by Israel’s Air Force and is intended to replace its veteran Boeing-made Chinook transport helicopters. This was despite that the cost of the CH-53K, including all systems and on-board equipment, is $120 million. The Chinook was offered to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for only $75-80 million.


The Drive said the defect was first detected during missions flown by US Marines, who have been flying the CH-53K since 2018. The force said the flaw would have a significant impact, especially in the Middle East and Afghanistan: Flight crews are often faced with ‘brownout’ conditions, where sand limits all visibility. The engine would have to be repaired or replaced so frequently it could become a liability.



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