The Israeli air force has begun an initial selection process aimed at replacing the Eurocopter AS565MA (Atalef) helicopters operated from the Israeli navy's missile boats.
The current type's crew consists of two air force pilots and a navy officer who operates the aircraft's sensors and is in contact with combat vessels and other aircraft operating in the area. In some cases this includes Israel Aerospace Industries Seascan maritime patrol aircraft also operated jointly by air force and navy personnel to extend the helicopter's surveillance envelope.
Israel requires a more capable replacement for the AS565MA due to the harsh maritime environment and an expansion to the operational capabilities of the navy's Saar-5 missile boats.
"In the future we will put rotorcraft UAVs [unmanned air vehicles] on our missile boats, but in the coming years we will need a replacement [helicopter]," says a senior air force source.
Source: Flight International
