Israel, Italy to swap training helos for Spike missiles
The Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 22 September a reciprocal procurement agreement under which Israel will receive another five Leonardo AW119Kx training helicopters from Italy in exchange for Rafael Spike guided missiles.
The IAF will receive another five AW119Kx training helicopters. (Israeli Air Force)
Signed over a secure video conference link by Major General (res) Amir Eshel, director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and Italian National Armaments Director Nicolò Falsaperna, the agreement completes a process that began in February 2019 and covered the delivery of seven AW119Kxs to the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
The new aircraft will gradually replace the Sayfan [Bell 206] helicopters, which have been in service since the 1970s, the MoD said in a statement. The agreement also includes two Leonardo simulators for helicopter training at the IAF Flight School.
“The completion of this agreement is essential for the training of IAF helicopter pilots and for the development of Israel's economy,” Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz said.
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