Israel has acquired the AW119Kx (pictured) to replace the OH-58 Kiowa in the helicopter pilot training role as its systems are more representative of the country’s modern front-line types. (Israeli Air Force)

Israel has inducted the Leonardo AW119Kx Koala (named Ofer [Fawn] in national service) training helicopter, with the first flight at the Israeli Air Force (IAF) Flight Academy at Hatzerim Air Force Base.

The IAF announced the milestone on 26 May, marking the beginning of operations of the single-engined helicopter that was acquired in 2019 to replace the ageing Bell OH-58 Kiowas (named Saifan [Sword] in national service) it has fielded since 1970.

“Welcome ‘Ofer’! Today was the first flight of the Ofer (AW119Kx) helicopter – the new flight training helicopter of the flight school,” the IAF posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The IAF decided to procure a new training helicopter to better bridge the technological and performance gaps between the OH-58 and front-line operational types.