Israel announced its long-awaited decision on the acquisition of next-generation heavy-lift helicopters on 25 February, revealing that it has opted for the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion. The Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement that Defense Minister Benny Gantz accepted the recommendation presented by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kohavi and Defense Ministry Director General Major General (res) Amir Eshel to select the CH-53K. Israel was also considering Boeing's CH-47 Chinook as a possible replacement for the CH-53 Yasur helicopters the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has operated since the late 1960s. "The decision was made following a professional assessment that included test flights in all the proposed aircraft, as well as a thorough examination of the various alternatives in terms of engineering, technological, maintenance, and other considerations," the MoD said. "All details, including the number of helicopters requested, will be brought to the approval of the Ministerial Committee for Procurement as soon as possible."
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