The Israeli navy's mission of protecting the nation's coastline is bolstered by air force helicopters which allow the maritime force to project itself
The Israeli navy has a dual mission - to extend the reach of the Israeli defence forces beyond the horizon and to foil any attempt to use the country's coastline to attack populated areas. The navy's Saar 5 missile boats, the service's main surface ships, carry helicopters that provide a capability to locate and identify targets in the Mediterranean. An Israeli air force squadron operating Eurocopter AS565MA helicopters is the navy's aerial tool for performing long-range missions.
Five AS565MA (Atalef) helicopters are deployed on the Saar 5s whenever their long-range sensors are needed. The squadron previously operated the Aerospatiale SA366G, but the navy wanted improved capabilities, and the newer Panther version was purchased with improved engines and advanced sensors. The squadron commander, identified only as Lt Col A, says that the unique combination of navy and air force works well. "We are air force, but we serve the navy. It has proved to be a very effective combination."
The squadron is located in the Ramat David air force base in northern Israel and deployed as required. Lt Col A says that the helicopters are sometimes also deployed on the Saar 4.5, which is a smaller ship, and on other classified combat vessels "according to the mission. Our mission is to increase the effective range of the combat ships. We are equipped for that mission and used as force multipliers."
Extended reach
The Saar 5s are armed with upgraded Boeing AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, and plans to equip the ships with Israeli-made advanced surface-to-surface missiles, and the helicopters are an effective force extension tool.
In the early 1980s the Israeli navy contracted Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (formerly Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding) to supply three Saar 5 class missile boats. The first, INS Eilat, was launched in February 1993, followed by INS Lahav in August that year and INS Hanit in March 1994. The ship's anti-air capability is based on the Barak 1 missile system developed by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Rafael. Two 32-cell vertical launch systems are installed on the raised gun deck at the bow of the ship. The ship also has two four-cell Harpoon missile launchers.
The Saar 5's onboard sensors have a limited range. When the AS565MA takes off from the deck, the helicopter's radar and electro-optical sensors send their output to the ship's combat centre, via a datalink. There, they are fused to create the "big picture" crucial in a huge potential combat arena, where any normal-looking vessel could in seconds become hostile. The multi-layered picture allows the Harpoon and Barak 1 missiles to be launched to their fullest range to hit any target.
The traffic in the Mediterranean is heavy - sometimes a hostile vessel can approach Israel by hiding among other ships. On numerous occasions, the combination of the air and sea sensors have foiled attempts by terrorists to reach the Israeli shore with boats filled with explosives and weapons.
The Atalef crew consists of two air force pilots and a navy officer who operates the sensors and is in contact with other combat vessels and aircraft in the area.
Westwind 1124 SeaScan maritime-patrol aircraft, also operated jointly by the air force and navy, are sometimes used to stretch the operational range of the AS565MAs. "They fly higher and faster and can relay our data output," says Lt Col A. The SeaScans are also equipped with sensors, the data from which is combined into the combat scenario for the navy commanders.
The AS565MAs are operated in almost all sea conditions and the Mediterranean is often rough. While the squadron's helicopters are not equipped for aerial refuelling they do not have to land to refuel. "We just hover above the deck and the refuelling hose is lowered using the rescue hoist. It saves time and allows us to continue the mission even in severe conditions," says Lt Col A. This refuelling procedure is used frequently even in calm seas, to keep pilot training up.
Rough conditions
Landing on the deck in rough sea conditions is the trickiest part of a mission. There is no automatic landing system on the ship. The older SA366Gs were equipped with an autopilot that, according to Lt Col A, was capable of performing landings in rough conditions. In recent joint drills with the Turkish and US navies, the squadron's helicopter pilots proved their abilities to land the AS565MAs in different weather and sea conditions.
Search-and-rescue missions are usually performed by the air force's 669 Sqn unit, operating mainly Sikorsky UH-60 and CH-53 helicopters. This unit is scrambled when the rescue is in a defined location on land or at sea. But when a ship sinks, and survivors are scattered in the water in day or night, the AS565MAs are called in. "We are the only aerial unit equipped to locate people at sea," says Lt Col A.
Saving lives
The Controp-produced stabilised optronic payload mounted on the helicopter's side is the main location and identification tool. The squadron's main task is to serve as the navy's eyes, in ranges beyond any sensor on its ships. For that purpose the payload includes a laser rangefinder and designator.
The Israeli navy is now considering the purchase of new corvettes and, according to Lt Col A, they will also carry helicopters. "There is no alternative to what we can do," he says. While the Israeli air force is using some types of unmanned air vehicles to replace manned aircraft, there is no imminent "threat" to the navy helicopters. "The uavs are used for many missions, but we will be around for a long time," says Lt Col A.
It is a view shared by other air force and navy commanders. The uav is still a limited platform that can carry a relatively small payload and its endurance is restricted. In recent years, IAI has demonstrated capabilities of some of its uavs to carry advanced sensors, like synthetic aperture radar. But it seems the navy will still turn to the helicopter whenever it needs to extend the reach of its weapon systems.
ARIE EGOZI / TEL AVIV
Source: Flight International
