The CH-53K King Stallion flies a test flight in West Palm Beach, Fla. on March 22, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Molly Hampton)

CORRECTION Dec. 2, 2021 2:10 ET: This report has been updated to clarify the number of helicopters and the amount for which they may be purchased.

TEL AVIV: The Israeli government has approved the planned procurement of a fleet of a dozen CH-53K helicopters, clearing a final regulatory hurdle for the buy and clearing the path for a final agreement to be signed by the end of the year.

The approval from the Israeli government ministers committee for defense acquisition headed by prime minster Naftali Bennet was given on Nov. 28.

This approval follows July’s official clearance from the Biden administration for the sale, which comes with an estimated $3.4 billion price tag for 18 of the Lockheed Martin-made rotorcraft. The Israeli approval covers plans to purchase 12 choppers for $2.4 billion initially.

The committee’s work included creating a list of Israeli-developed systems that will be installed on the heavy helicopter. According to a senior defense source, some of the systems will be installed in the assembly line in the US, while others will be installed in Israel after the helicopters are accepted by the Israeli Air Force.

While that list is classified, two systems were mentioned during the negotiations conducted between the Israeli and US — special Israeli developed EW systems and a new advanced pilot helmet to be developed by Elbit system, a leading supplier of combat pilot’s helmets.

It is typical of the Israeli Air Force to seek to add homemade systems onto US gear it procures. The same was true with the F-35, where the Israeli Air chief recently told Breaking Defense he wants to install advanced, Israeli-made equipment into the stealth fighter.

Miki Bar, a former base commander for the Israeli Air Force, told Breaking Defense that while he cannot cite specifics, he expects that “systems that are used for communication with ground forces, fighter aircraft and UAV’s have to be Israeli made to work properly in full synchronizations with all other systems. EW systems have to be Israeli made to be tailored to the relevant threats.”

Some Israeli defense companies are already developing the systems that will be installed on the new heavy helicopters.

It is expected that the first contract for $2.4 billion will be signed before the end of the year, and will cover 12 helicopters, with the remaining six to come from a second order down the road. The first contract will include technical support for a period of five years, training air and ground crews and the supply of simulators.

Israel selected the CH-53K as the replacement for its old CH-53. The selection was made after a competition with the Boeing CH-47. Lockheed has put the per-unit price tag for the CH-53Ks operated by the US Marines at $94.7 million, covering just the airframe and systems, without the support and peripheral equipment that are often included in Foreign Military Sales cases.