Naval Commando with Wings: Meet the IDF's New Helicopter
An article about the Israeli Air Force's new naval helicopter, the Yanshuf (SH-60F Ocean Hawk), which will replace the Atalef helicopters and operate in Squadron 193, which has been reopened. The article reviews the six main missions of naval helicopters: target detection, anti-submarine warfare, naval warfare, surface raids, electronic warfare, and rescue and transport. It explains why a larger helicopter was chosen, including reasons of ship size, mission complexity, and procurement restrictions from the US.
The article presents the Israeli Air Force's new naval helicopter, the Yanshuf (SH-60F Ocean Hawk), which will replace the Atalef helicopters and operate within Squadron 193 'Defenders of the West', which was reopened this week. The helicopter, an improved version of the Seahawk, is larger, heavier, and twice as powerful as its predecessors, and can carry more equipment and people. The article reviews the six main missions of naval helicopters: locating and investigating targets, anti-submarine warfare, naval warfare, surface raids, electronic warfare, and rescue and logistical transport. It explains why a larger helicopter was chosen: the ships have grown (Sa'ar 5 and 6), the missions are more complex, and Israel buys what the US allows it to buy. The article also includes historical background on naval helicopters, starting with the German Flattner 282 Kolibri from 1942, and mentions examples such as the British Wildcat and the European NH90.