Looking to bolster its air support capabilities for possible future operations in Lebanon and Gaza, the Israel Air Force (IAF) has begun testing Black Hawk utility helicopters upgraded with offensive air-to-surface missile launchers and a rapid-fire cannon. The tests are only meant to assess the possibility of upgrades, according to sources quoted by The Jerusalem Post , and there is no plan at this stage to equip the IAF's entire Black Hawk fleet with offensive capabilities. The air force currently has several dozen Black Hawk helicopters – called Yanshuf – which it began receiving in the 1990s. The helicopter upgrade efforts represent a joint project with the U.S.-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation – the chopper’s manufacturer – and several local defense contractors. Originally designed in the 1970s as a utility tactical transport aircraft for the United States Air Force, the Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter that can carry a squad of a dozen troops with equipment or carry over one ton of equipment. They were first used in combat by the IAF in April 1996 during operation "Grapes of Wrath" against Hizbullah terrorists in southern Lebanon. The IAF is also engaged in advanced negotiations with defense manufacturer Boeing to upgrade at least six of its old "A" model Apache attack helicopters to the "D" model Longbow version which features an above-rotor advanced radar system that shares targeting data with other Longbows. According to foreign sources quoted in the report, Israel has 37 of the "A" model Apaches and 11 Longbows. Three Apache helicopters, including one Longbow, were lost during the Second Lebanon War due to a midair collision and a case of rotor malfunction. IAF reportedly has plans to establish a second squadron of Apache Longbows in the next 10 years.
