The upgrade plan may reach a volume of hundreds of millions of dollars.
General Electric’s motors division, together with Israel Aircraft Industries’ helicopter division, will upgrade the Israel Air Force Cobra combat helicopters. The upgrade will include new motors, which will increase both flight time, and armament carrying capacity. The Air Force is planning to replace the Lycoming T-52 motors with new motors, and has chosen IAI and GE to produce a prototype.
The per helicopter cost of replacing a single motor and execution of an overall motor upgrade is some $1 million. According to international sources, Israel’s Air Force has over 50 Cobra helicopters, and the upgrade plan may reach a volume of hundreds of millions of dollars, when it is put into effect. The motors installed will be the new GE models T-700 and T-701.