Israeli Air Force

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Israeli Air Force
File:Iaf symbol.jpg

Founded1948
CountryIsrael
SizeAround 1,000 aircraft
Part ofIsrael Defense Forces
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefAluf Ido Nehoshtan
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
An Israeli Air Force F-4 Phantom II, in typical desert camouflage
An IAF F-16I Sufa

The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as חיל האוויר Hel HaAvir, "Air Corps") is the air force of the Israel Defense Forces. The current Commander in Chief is Aluf Ido Nehoshtan. The Israeli Air Force has approximately 1000 aircraft.

History

State of Israel
Israel
Geography
History
Conflicts
Foreign relations
Security forces
Economy

Early years (1948-1957)

The IAF was formed when Israel declared statehood in 1948 and found itself under immediate attack. Its predecessor, Sherut Avir, was the air wing of the Haganah. The IAF's humble beginnings made its first air victories particularly impressive and noteworthy; at first, it was assembled from a hodge-podge collection of civilian aircraft commandeered or donated and converted to military use. A variety of obsolete and surplus ex-World War II (mostly Ex-Luftwaffe) combat aircraft were quickly sourced by various means to supplement this fleet. The backbone of the IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199 (purchased from Czechoslovakia, and essentially Czechoslovak-built Messerschmitt Bf 109s) and 62 Spitfire LF Mk IXE. Creativity and resourcefulness were the early foundations of Israeli military success in the air, rather than technology (which, at the inception of the IAF, was generally inferior to that used by Israel's adversaries).

During the 1950s, France became a major supplier of warplanes to Israel, but the trust between the two countries was violated just before the Six-Day War, when France declared an arms embargo on Israel. This had a two-pronged effect: Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) significantly increased its efforts and abilities in weapons production (initially based on the French models) and the United States replaced France as Israel's principal military-aircraft supplier, producing the majority of the IAF combat fighters from the late 1960s until today.

The Six-Day War

During the Six-Day War, the Israeli Air Force achieved air supremacy by eliminating the vast majority of opposing Arab air forces on the first day of fighting. On June 5, 1967, in Operation Focus, a massive coordinated raid employing special Durandal and conventional bombs, rockets and strafing, the IAF destroyed most of the Egyptian air force while their planes were still on the ground. By the end of the day the Syrian and Jordanian air forces were virtually wiped out as well. The IAF shoot-down record at the end of the war was a claimed record of 451 enemy aircraft downed versus 10 downed of its own. While this operation was taking place, only a handful of aircraft were left to guard Israeli skies.

The War of Attrition

In the War of Attrition, the IAF operated in air "dog fight" and bombing of strategic targets deep within enemy's territory. Notable operations were:

Yom Kippur War

In the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, the IAF suffered heavy casualties from Soviet anti-aircraft surface-to-air missiles but managed to regroup and assist IDF's ground forces and later bomb infrastructure targets in Syria and Egypt. One of the first battles in the war's air front was the Ofira Air Battle, involving two Israeli Phantoms against 28 Egyptian Mig-17s. IAF helicopters proved to be highly useful in logistics and rescue efforts (MedEvac). According to Israel, during that war, the IAF lost 102 planes while the Egyptian Air Force lost 235 and the Syrian Air Force lost 135, although these figures are contested. The IAF was certainly not able to achieve the aerial supremacy during the Yom Kippur War that it did during the Six-Day War.

Growth (1973-82)

Following the Yom Kippur War, most of Israel's military aircraft have been obtained from the United States. Those included the F-4 Phantom II, A-4 Skyhawk, F-15 Eagle, E-2 Hawkeye and others.

The Israeli Air Force has also operated a number of domestically-produced types like the IAI Nesher, and later, the more advanced IAI Kfir, which were unauthorised derivatives of the French Dassault Mirage 5 (Israel bought 50 Mirage 5's from Dassault Aviation, but they were not delivered due to the French embargo during the Yom Kippur war). The Kfir was adapted to utilize a more powerful US engine, produced under license in Israel. In 1976, the IAF participated in the Operation Entebbe rescue mission in Uganda using the C-130 Hercules for transport.

During the 1980s and 1990s the IAF was equipped with a variety of additional U.S. aircraft (e.g. F-16, AH-1 Cobra, AH-64 Apache, and C-130 Hercules).

Bombing of the Osiraq nuclear reactor

Main article: Operation Opera

On June 7, 1981 eight IAF F-16A fighters covered by six F-15A jets flew in Operation Opera (also referred to as Operation Babylon or Operation Ofra) to bomb and destroy the Iraq nuclear facilities of Osiraq. Among the pilots that took part in the attack was the late Colonel Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut. The planes returned to Israel very low on fuel.

1982 Lebanon War

During the 1982 Lebanon War, IAF planes destroyed many Syrian air defences and shot down 100 Syrian aircraft without a single fighter lost (Syria disputes this claim). However, one IAF A-4 Skyhawk, piloted by Captain Aharon Achiaz, was lost to a PLO SA-7 missile, with the pilot being captured. IAF AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships destroyed dozens of Syrian armored fighting vehicles and other ground targets, including some T-72 main battle tanks.

For some years after the war's official end, however, IAF AH-1 Cobras continued to mount attacks on Hezbollah and PLO positions in south Lebanon.

Bombing of the PLO headquarters in Tunis

On October 1, 1985 Operation Wooden Leg undertook the bombing of PLO Headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, the longest combat mission ever undertaken by the IAF: 2300 kilometers, involving in flight refueling by an IAF Boeing 707.

The attack provoked a strong outcry, even among the United States, Israel's strongest ally.

High Tech age (1990 and beyond)

During the 1990s the IAF upgraded most of its aircraft with advanced Israeli-made systems, improving the performances of the aircraft. In the 1990s the IAF also received the AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship and equipped its aircraft with the Rafael Python 4, Popeye and Derby missiles. In 1991, the IAF participated in Operation Solomon which brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Also, the IAI Lavi was canceled.

That same year, Israel was attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles during the first Gulf War. Israeli Air Force pilots were on constant stand-by in their cockpits throughout the conflict, ready to fly to Iraq to retaliate. Diplomatic pressure from the United States, however, kept the IAF grounded while Coalition air assets and Patriot missile batteries supplied by the U.S. and the Netherlands sought to deal with the Scuds.

In the new millennium, the IAF bought the F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) and the F-16I Sufa (Storm), two of the most advanced variants of the F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, manufactured specially for Israel according to the IAF requirements. The IAF has purchased 102 Sufa F-16I warplanes, the first planes arrived in April, 2004 (the IAF is the largest operator of F-16's after the US Air Force). The IAF also purchased the advanced Israeli air-to-air missile Rafael Python 5, with full-sphere capability, and considered among the best in its field, as well as a special version of the Apache Longbow, designated AH-64DI or Saraph. In 2005 the Israeli Air Force received special Gulfstream V jets (known as "Nachshon"), modified with the newest and most advanced intelligence systems in the world, all made by Israel Military Industries.

Command structure of the IAF

Three IAF squadrons (150 Sqn, 199 Sqn and 248 Sqn), based at Sedot Mikha airbase, are thought to be responsible for Israel's surface-to-surface nuclear strike capability, maintaining a stockpile of between 21 and 100 Jericho I and II medium-range ballistic missiles[1]. The Jericho III, capable of reaching targets throughout the Middle East and Europe, as well as much of Africa and Asia, is thought to be currently entering service, with a test launch in early 2008.

During the al-Aqsa intifada, the IAF was largely employed in targeted killings of leaders of Palestinian militant groups viewed by Israel as terrorists, most notably Salah Shakhade, Mahmoud Abu-Hunud, Abu Ali Mustafa, Ahmed Yassin and Abed al-Aziz Rantissi. This policy is controversial - due to the collateral damage caused in certain instances. Israel claims it is vital to fight terrorism and that IAF pilots do whatever they can to avoid civilian casualties - including aborting strikes.

After a landmark 1994 High Court appeal by a Jewish immigrant from South Africa, Alice Miller, the Air Force was instructed to open its flight school to women. Miller passed her entrance exams, yet failed the medical tests and thus did not qualify[2]. The first female fighter pilot successfully received her wings in 2001 (several female navigators graduated before her).

In September 2007, the Israeli Air Force successfully bombed an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor in Operation Orchard.

The insignia of the Israeli Air Force is a blue Star of David on a white circle. This is usually painted in six positions - on the top and bottom of each wing, and each side of the fuselage. Squadron markings are usually carried on the tail fin.

Records and highlights

The Israeli Air Force is considered the strongest air force in the Middle East, and one of the best and most sophisticated in the world. Over the past few decades Israel has purchased sophisticated American fighters and installed on them its locally developed and produced avionics and weapons. Perhaps the greatest strength of the IAF is the skill of its pilots. Israeli combat pilots are considered among the best in the world, and hold a large number of shoot-down records. The IAF relies on its Air Intelligence Directorate for intelligence, including analysis of aerial photography. Many of the IAF's electronics and weapons systems are developed and built in Israel by Israel Military Industries, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit and others.

The IAF holds world records respective to the amounts of enemy warplanes shoot-downs, air combat performance, special operations, and air to ground operations from the jet era onward.

Some of the records and highlight moments are as follows:

Six Day War

June 5, 1967 – the Six Day War: The destruction of the entire Egyptian air-force within three hours. By the end of the day the Syrian and Jordanian air forces were wiped out as well. The IAF shoot-down total at the end of the war was a claimed record of 451 enemy aircraft downed versus nineteen of its own. See: Operation Focus.

War of Attrition

March, 1969 until August, 1970 – the War of Attrition: 111 enemy warplanes were shot-down in dogfights by IAF pilots while only four IAF warplanes were shot down in dogfights by enemy pilots (according to Israeli sources). Also, during the Cold War the Soviet Union held close relationships with the Arab nations. On July 30, 1970 the tension peaked: An IAF ambush resulted in a large scale air brawl between IAF planes and MiGs flown by Soviet pilots — five MiGs were shot down, while the IAF suffered no losses.

Yom Kippur War

October 9, 1973 – the Yom Kippur War: The destruction of the Syrian General Staff in Damascus: On October 9 1973, two F-4 Phantom quartets attacked and destroyed the Syrian General Staff Headquarters in the heart of Damascus. The Syrian Air Force Headquarters was damaged as well.

Also, during the Yom Kippur War, the IAF shot down 277 enemy warplanes accounting for over a third of the IAF's total kills since 1948. However in this war over 50 planes were lost due to the introduction of new Soviet air defence equipment and doctrine: medium range SA-6 mobile SAM batteries and point defence provided by short range Shilka radar guided SPAAG and SA-7 Strela MANPADS (employed by Egyptian infantry), advancing with the mechanized forces and covered by older but longer range and still very dangerous SA-2 and SA-3 anti aircraft missile batteries. Israeli Air Force was the first Air Force that fought against the new Soviet doctrine of advancing mechanized forces covered by overlapping different surface based anti airctraft systems.

1982 Lebanon War

June 8, 1982 – 1982 Lebanon War: The destruction of the entire Soviet supplied Syrian air-defence system in Lebanon within a few hours without a single warplane lost; Syria with the help of the Soviet Union built up an overlapping network of surface-to-air missiles. It achieved in dogfights a total of 80 Syrian planes shoot-downs, without a single Israeli plane being shot down. It was felt as a revenge to the air losses in 1973.

2006 Lebanon War

IAF AH-64D "Saraf"

The IAF played a critical role in the 2006 Lebanon War by leading the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. These strikes – mainly, though not exclusively, in southern Lebanon – were officially aimed at crippling Hezbollah's militia which is primarily based there. The IAF flew more than 12,000 combat missions during this war, destroying a good deal of Lebanese infrastructure. Widespread condemnation followed the IAF airstrike on an apartment building on July 30, 2006 near the village of Qana, in which at least 28 civilians were killed. Hezbollah shot down an IAF CH-53 Yas'ur helicopter on the last day of the war. Earlier, an IAF F-16I had crashed during take-off. Israeli aircraft also shot down three Hezbollah aerial drones during the conflict.

Other

  • The only documented successful emergency landing of an F-15 with one wing, after losing the starboard wing after an airborne collision with an A-4 Skyhawk during training. The Skyhawk exploded and its pilot ejected. McDonnell-Douglas, manufacturer of the F-15, refused to believe it was possible until photos of the incident were released. The F-15 was subsequently restored to flight status.
  • "Ace" pilots: 39 IAF pilots have shot down at least five jet planes, ten out of them shot down at least eight jet planes.
  • "Ace of Aces": Colonel Giora Epstein shot down seventeen jet planes, holding the world record of jet aircraft shot down, and the most aircraft shot of any type down since the Korean War.
  • Obtaining the first shoot-downs for the American fighter jets, the F-15 and the F-16. [1]
  • The first possible shoot-downs of their own American fighter jets, the F-16s and F-15.[2]
  • 126 enemy planes were shot down in dogfights in the years between the wars — most of them in the 1970s. The IAF lost only two planes in dogfights between the wars, one in 1959 and the other in 1964.

Pilot Selection and Training

The selection process for IAF pilots can be traced to Ezer Weizman, widely considered the architect of the modern Israeli Air Force, and his aim of recruiting only "the best for pilots." His reasoning was that the skill and bravery of the ground forces would be for naught if they could be attacked at will from the air. As a result, only those thought to possess the innate ability to succeed as Israeli pilots are even invited to begin the training process, and only the most qualified succeed in completing what is seen by many as the world's most demanding military selection course.

Consequently, potential Israeli pilots are marked out several years prior to reporting for national service at age 18, based on factors such as high scores in school and on standardized tests, excellent physical condition and exceptional loyalty to the state. Those who meet these and other criteria are invited to participate in a six-day gibush (cohesion), a selection phase involving physical, mental, and sociometric challenges. Recruits are screened not only for their ability to perform the tasks assigned, but for their attitude in performing them —such as how they take hardships and unexpected difficulties, how well they work in groups and how they approach problem solving and disaster management situations. As many as 90 percent of those who commence the gibush will be dropped from further consideration at its conclusion. (The physical demands of the gibush have been lessened recently, following the death of a participant in 2006.)

Those who pass the gibush embark on a three-year journey to their wings, which includes not only learning to fly, but learning how to be an officer and how to lead, while simultaneously pursuing an academic degree. Part of the course involves spending time as an officer in an infantry unit, so the future pilot will know what his comrades on the ground expect from the air force. At each stage of the process, quizzes and exams become more frequent and difficult and assessments by instructors become sharper and more demanding, leading to more and more recruits being dropped from the course. Depending on how far the candidate progresses, someone expelled from the course at an advanced stage will either remain in the air force in a non-flying capacity, or transfer to an army unit.

For the few dozen who make it to graduation, only those with the highest academic and leadership scores are assigned to train as fast jet pilots (considered the most desirable assignment), while the remainder will learn to fly helicopters, transport aircraft, or train as navigators.[3]

The pilot course was opened to women in 1995, though the first female pilot did not receive her wings until 2001. (Several female navigators graduated earlier.) While Israeli Arabs may volunteer to serve in the IDF, it is unclear whether they can seek air force training. In 2006, an Israeli Arab applied to be considered for the pilot program, but was not accepted.[4]

List of IAF Commanders

Aircraft

Historic

Fighters/Bombers

Utility

Transport/Reconnaissance

Trainers/Light Aircraft

Helicopters

Other

Captured Aircraft

Current

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service[5] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | Beechcraft Bonanza ||  United States || trainer || A36 "Hofit" || 18 || |-----

| Beechcraft Super King Air ||  United States || utility transport

reconnaissance || King Air 200 "Tzofit"

RC-12D "Cuckia"

RC-12K "Cuckia"|| 23

5

2 ||

|----- | Bell 206 JetRanger ||  United States || utility helicopter || 206B "Saifanit" || 4 || |-----

| Bell AH-1 Cobra ||  United States || attack helicopter || AH-1E "Tzefa"

AH-1F "Tzefa"

AH-1G "Tzefa"

AH-1S "Tzefa"|| 10

9

5

25 ||

|----- | Bell OH-58 Kiowa ||  United States || scout helicopter || OH-58D || 7 || |-----

| Boeing 707 ||  United States || transport

special missions || 707-300 "Re'em" || 14 || One Purchased from Royal Moroccan Air Force and some modified as Phalcon AWACS

|-----

| Boeing AH-64 Apache ||  United States || attack helicopter || AH-64A "Peten"

AH-64D "Saraph" || 40

9 ||

|-----

| Boeing F-15 Eagle ||  United States || fighter

trainer

fighter

trainer

fighter || F-15A "Baz"

F-15B "Baz"

F-15C "Baz"

F-15D "Baz"|| 20

4

17

9 ||

|----- | Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle ||  United States || fighter || F-15I "Ra'am" || 25 || |----- | Dornier Do 28 ||  Germany || utility ||"Agur" || 12 ||(now in storage) |----- | Fouga Magister ||  France || trainer || CM.170 "Tzukit" || 40 || built by AMIT |----- | Gulfstream G500 ||  United States || AEW / SiGInt || G550 "Nachshon"|| 8 || |-----

| Lockheed C-130 Hercules ||  United States || tactical transport || C-130E "Qarnaf"

C-130H "Qarnaf"

KC-130H "Qarnaf"|| 8

6

4 ||

|-----

| Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon ||  United States || fighter || F-16A "Netz"

F-16B "Netz"

F-16C "Barak"

F-16D "Barak"

F-16I "Sufa" || 78

17

78

49

100+ || (more 50 "Sufa" on order)

|----- | McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk ||  United States || trainer || TA-4 "Ayit"|| 49 || |-----

| Sikorsky S-65 Sea Stallion ||  United States || transport helicopter || CH-53A "Yas'ur"

CH-53D "Yas'ur 2000" || 7

32 ||

|-----

| Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk ||  United States || transport helicopter || S-70A "Yanshuf"

UH-60A "Yanshuf"|| 39

10* 24 S-70-55 Yanshuf 3 operated ex FMS serials 02-26930 to 02-26953 ||

|-----

| Eurocopter AS-565 Panther ||  France || EW/SAR ||AS-565 "Atalef" ('Bat')[3] || ?

?||

|}

Fixed-Wing Aircraft

Helicopters

Missiles, Rockets and Satellites

Air-to-Air Missiles

Air-to-Surface Missiles

Surface-to-Air Missiles

Surface-to-Surface Missiles

Space Systems

Airfields

See also

Notes

  1. ^ GlobalSecurity.org: Zachariah - Israel - Special Weapons Facilities
  2. ^ New York Times - Israeli Air Force Not for Her
  3. ^ Israel's Air Force, Samuel M. Katz, Motorbooks International (Osceola), 1991
  4. ^ "IDF Says 'No' to Arab Pilot," yNetNews.com, Jan. 10, 2006
  5. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15 2007.

References

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Israeli_Air_Force&oldid=214672055"