The Israeli Air Force has managed to upgrade its attack helicopters notwithstanding apparent resistance from the Obama administration, according to a World Tribune news report.

Despite opposition from the U.S. – which has been intensifying pressure on the Jewish state for concessions in peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority –  the Israeli Air Force has upgraded its fleet of Apache helicopters, says World Tribune, an American international news site.

The Israeli Air Force has been equipping the Apaches with two new electronic warfare systems developed in Israel, the site reports, citing Israeli military sources.

“They are based on the huge operational experience of the force in using the Apache Longbow in a variety of combat scenarios,” an IDF officer, identified only as Maj. Yonatan, said, according to World Tribune.

“The upgrade has been developed amid the U.S. refusal to modernize Israel’s Apache fleet, employed in attacks on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip,” the article alleges, claiming that “sources said the administration of President Barack Obama blocked Israeli efforts to modernize the Apaches or purchase new helicopters from Boeing.”

Furthermore, “the new Israeli systems were cited by the official magazine of the Israeli Air Force. The sources said the sensors underwent trials in early 2014 and would be integrated on the Apaches later this year,” and that “the Air Force would enhance the AH-64A helicopter to D configuration. They cited such capabilities as avionics, EW and advanced munitions, including the AGM-114 Hellfire, produced by the U.S. firm Lockheed Martin.”

World Tribune quoted a source as saying that “the upgraded Apaches now also carry several new Israeli missiles.”

“There is now complete interoperability between the Apache with the Merkava and other vehicles,” a source said.

Israeli Air Force Overcomes Resistance with Innovation

Ted Belman, publisher of Israpundit, published the story as well as the OSNet Daily editor’s opinion:

“This recent story demonstrates the ongoing policy of the Obama regime to transform Israel into a passive punching bag and defensive laboratory for the US military industrial complex, as demonstrated by his recent decision to allocate more funds for the Iron Dome interception system (in which the US mega-contractor Raytheon shares a stake), while putting an embargo on offensive systems like the AH64 platform which is crucial to counter guerrilla and  counter terrorism operations in Gaza and Sinai – two key regions currently infested with CIA sponsored Islamic terror groups.”

“In this case,” the editor continues, “the Israelis have managed to overcome this embargo by upgrading the platform on their own.”

Date: Mar. 17, 2014