Israel decided to buy Lockheed Martin's CH-53K King Stallion helicopter, not Boeing's CH-47F Chinook
With this Israeli move, observers wondered, why did India put their faith in Chinook helicopters?
India bought a total of 15 Chinook helicopters from the US Boeing corporation last year
The last five helicopters were handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Chandigarh, just before India imposed a shutdown
due to the Covid-19 pandemic
India's Chinook transport helicopters are purchased through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program
under an agreement between the Indian and US governments, signed in November 2015 under President Obama
India is a huge country
Historically, they have mainly relied on Russia's Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter squadon
India decided to choose the Chinook to expand its fleet of heavy helicopters
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook is an American twin-engined, tandem rotor
heavy-lift helicopter developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol (later known as Boeing Rotorcraft Systems)
The CH-47F is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters
Meanwhile, Israel is a close ally and has a tradition of using American helicopters
There has been speculation that Israel will buy the Chinook
but on February 25, the Israeli Air Force decided to buy the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter
The CH-53K King Stallion is manufactured by the helicopter company Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin
These helicopters will replace the existing Israeli CH-53, also known as the Yasur
The decision to buy CH-53K helicopters, marking the Israel Defense Forces as the first foreign military to buy CH-53K helicopters
Although it is not clear how many CH-53Ks the Israeli Air Force is expected to receive
according to reports, the number of CH-53K could be between 20 and 25
The advantage of the CH-53K is that it can perform a wide range of transport operations in harsh battlefield conditions
Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantz said
the CH-53K could "adapt to the requirements of the Israeli Air Force and to the challenges of the changing battlefield".
The CH-53K heavy transport helicopter is currently being produced by Lockheed Martin for the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The CH-53K uses 3 General Electric T408 turboshaft engines, with an output of 7,500 hp each (5,590 kW).
The rotor blades are made of new composite material and the cabin is wider, compared to previous CH-53 variants
The question is why do Indians buy the Chinook?
It is reported that the reason India chose the CH-47F Chinook
is because it will ensure the Indian Air Force unprecedented strategic airlifting capabilities, from combat to disaster relief
The CH-47 Chinook heavy helicopter has a long history, used by the US Army and armies of more than 19 countries around the world
Its reputation is the guarantee of a successful contract
In terms of features, the CH-47F uses a modern glass cockpit, advanced digital flight control systems
to improve crew safety and rapid cargo handling
Allows the crew to switch missions quickly and conveniently
The CH-47F has a 10-ton payload and is capable of operating at high altitudes, meeting the Indian Air Force's heavy transport requirements
In addition, the CH-47F can change rapidly from transporting goods to transporting people, vehicles and other materials
An important mission for India's CH-47F helicopters is to assist in the construction of infrastructure and border facilities
especially in the northeastern region bordering China, where the terrain is rugged and the climate is harsh
According to Boeing, the CH-47F allows India to use helicopters in hot climates, high terrain and strong winds
maximizing interoperability and reducing life cycle costs
Comparing the Indian CH-47F Chinooks to the Israeli CH-53K Stallion helicopters, the CH-53 has a significantly larger payload capacity
The payload of CH-53K reaches a maximum of 15,900 kg
The CH-47F Chinook has two engines, while the King Stallion has three
Boeing is currently testing a new Chinook with a powerful T408 engine, similar to that on a Sikorsky helicopter
However this version is not intended for India