PALMACHIM AIRBASE, ISRAEL – The Israeli Air Force reopened its 193rd Squadron on Tuesday after a nearly yearlong closure, restoring dedicated helicopter support for the Israeli Navy’s maritime operations.

The squadron was shuttered in August 2025 following the retirement of its AS565 Panther helicopters. It will now fly the SH-60F Seahawk, a naval variant of the Black Hawk, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

A ceremony marking the squadron’s return was held at Palmachim Airbase. The IDF said the unit will work in close cooperation with the Missile Boat Flotilla on missions at sea. Those tasks include defending Israel’s strategic assets, safeguarding freedom of navigation, supporting maneuvering forces and employing naval firepower.

“The squadron constitutes a central component of the IDF’s air-sea array and expands the operational response in the maritime domain,” the military said.