Page 20 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

NEWS Middle East

Fifty years Israel’s ‘Air Force One’ takes flight Chinook
of the Yas’ur d eal for UAE

BOEING IS close to selling
the United Arab Emirates
Air Force and Air Defence
ten more Chinooks. During
an interview with US Army
Secretary Ryan McCarthy,
quoted by Bloomberg
News on October 22,
McCarthy said: “I believe
we will be in the position
Israel’s ‘Air Force One’, 4X-ISR here very shortly to take the

takes o on its maiden next step for notification
flight. The aircraft has been
Anthony Hershko o icially named ‘Wing of to Congress” of the

proposed sale to the UAE.
THE ISRAELI Air Force (IAF) Zion’. Yissachar Ruas The UAEAF&AD currently
has marked a half-century THE LATEST governmental in service, the 767 will carry Hill, after which it was put operates 20 CH-47Fs,
of operations by its Sikorsky transport for the Israeli Air Israeli prime ministers and into storage in November operated by Joint Aviation
CH-53 Yas’ur helicopter. The Force (IAF), Boeing 767- presidents on overseas trips. 2013. New equipment Command’s 25 Group
first CH-53D models arrived 300ER 4X-ISR (c/n 30186, line Acquisition of the aircraft added by IAI includes and based at Sas Al
in Israel on October 26, number 796), has completed and refurbishment by Israel self-defence systems and Nakheel, Abu Dhabi.
1969 and joined 114 ‘Night its first flight after being Aerospace Industries (IAI) secure communications. Also in service are eight
Leaders’ Squadron, which painted in its new livery. First reportedly cost US$206m. The first test flight followed Italian-built, former Libyan
had previously operated delivered to Qantas in 2000, The twinjet arrived in an earlier runway test CH-47Cs, upgraded
the Super Frelon. Today, the airliner returned to the air Israel in 2016 after service interrupted by a brake to CH-47C+ standard
the Yas’ur fleet serves with at Ben-Gurion International with the Australian flag- malfunction on the left main before entering service
both the 114th and the 118 Airport on November 3. Once carrier as VH-OGV Swan undercarriage on October 31. in 2006. Dave Allport
‘Night Riders’ Squadron.

A total of 55 CH-53Ds
were eventually delivered, 35 First flight for Iran’s Kowsar-88/Yasin
new-build examples being
followed by two ex-Austrian IRAN HAS flown a prototype
aircraft and 18 ex-US Marine of the Iran Aviation Industries
Corps aircraft delivered Organization’s (IAIO’s)
in two batches. A further Kowsar-88 advanced jet
eight ex-USMC examples trainer, now renamed the
were delivered from 1993 Yasin. The maiden flight is
for spares recovery and a thought to have taken place
further five more in 2013. on October 15 at the 3rd
Sixteen were lost to attrition. Tactical Air Base at Hamadan-
Examples in service today Nojeh. It was formally
include Yas’ur 037, one of the unveiled there the following
first to arrive in Israel in 1969. day during a ceremony The Yasin jet trainer, formerly known
The helicopter has been attended by defence minister as the Kowsar-88, during its maiden
subject to successive Brigadier General Ali Hatami, flight from Hamadan. FARS News Agency
upgrades, including commander of the Islamic
replacement of the engines, Republic of Iran Air Force was first unveiled in a it makes much use of close air support missions,
rotors, cockpit displays and (IRIAF) Brigadier General ceremony on April 15, 2017, components stripped from although to date there has
communication systems. A Aziz Nasirzadeh and vice- at the Iranian Helicopter retired IRIAF F-5A/Bs. The been no indication that any
batch of 37 existing CH-53D president for science and Support and Renewal IRIAF reported in 2017 attempt has been made
Yas’urs were upgraded to technology Sorena Sattari. Company’s No 1 Plant that it plans to acquire 50 to weaponise the type.
Yas’ur 2000 standard during Development of the aircraft north of Tehran-Mehrabad production Yasins for use Service entry is tentatively
the late 1990s. An attrition by the IAIO’s Aerospace International Airport – see as advanced jet trainers. set for 2023, although it
loss occurred on July 26, Research Center had been Iran’s Kowsar-88 trainer More recently, the IRIAF has remains to be seen whether
2010 during an exercise in under way for many years unveiled, July 2017, p24. shown interest in using it it even reaches series
Romania, resulting in seven and the incomplete prototype Although a new design, as a light attack aircraft for production. Dave Allport
fatalities. Four more were

sold to Mexico from 2005. Kuwaiti H225M begins flight testing
From 2008, conversions
to Yas’ur 2025 began. AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
Today, 22 of these are in announced on October 18
service alongside five of that the first H225Ms for
the earlier Yas’ur 2000 Kuwait have started flight
versions. However, a lack testing, ahead of planned
of spare parts means that delivery later this year.
items have to be regularly Kuwait ordered 30 H225Ms
switched between airframes in August 2016 for use by
to maintain serviceability. the Kuwait Air Force (KAF)
The IAF’s Yas’ur Division and the Kuwait National
has now exceeded the Guard, although the exact The initial Kuwaiti H225 was
10,000 flight-hour limit split between the two seen in production during
originally designated services is unconfirmed. 2018 and the first completed
by the manufacturer. Kuwaiti plans to order 24 aircraft was seen pre-
Talks are currently H225Ms were announced by delivery in August this year.
under way regarding a the Elysée Palace in Paris in Airbus Helicopters
replacement for the Yas’ur, June 2015, with the contract was not until August the helicopters, an extra six initial delivery was expected
with the CH-47F and said to be signed “as soon following year that a contract having been added to the in 29 months, with the final
CH-53K both in the running. as possible”. However, it was finally signed, for 30 original requirement. The example after 48 months.

20 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

20-21 News AFM Dec2019.indd 20 11/11/2019 10:51:38