Israeli Air Force

Israeli Air Force

Founded 1948
Country Israel
Size ~750 aircraft
Part of Israel Defense Forces
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief Aluf Ido Nehoshtan
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle
Fighter Boeing F-15 Eagle, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Patrol IAI SeaScan, Eurocopter Panther
Trainer Grob G-120, Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, Beechcraft Super King Air, Bell 206
Transport Boeing 707–320, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion, Sikorsky S-70

The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האוויר והחלל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as חיל האוויר, Kheil HaAvir, "Air Corps") is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Its current Commander in Chief is Aluf Ido Nehoshtan.

Contents

Mission statement

The Israeli Air Force states the following as its functions:[1][2]

  1. Defence of Israel's airspace the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) zone of operations.
  2. Attaining aerial superiority over the IDF's zone of operations
  3. Participating in combat operations on both land and sea
  4. Striking targets deep inside enemy territory
  5. Creation of the aerial intelligence picture and participation in the formation and evaluation of Israel's overall intelligence assessment
  6. Transportation of troops, equipment and weapons systems
  7. Execution of search, rescue and aerial evacuation missions
  8. Execution of special operations
  9. Development of aerial power within the framework of the IDF.

History

Main article: History of the Israeli Air Force

Early years (1948–1967)

Preceded by the Sherut Avir, the air wing of the Haganah, the Israeli Air Force was officially formed on May 28, 1948, shortly after Israel declared statehood and found itself under immediate attack. 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 combat aircraft were quickly sourced by various means – both legal and illegal – to supplement this fleet. The backbone of the IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199s (purchased from Czechoslovakia, essentially Czechoslovak-built Messerschmitt Bf 109s) and 62 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IXEs. 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). Many of the first IAF's pilots in 1948 were foreign volunteers (both Jewish and non-Jewish) and World War II veterans, who wanted to collaborate with Israel's struggle for its independence.

Israel's new fighter arm first went into action on May 29, 1948, assisting the efforts to halt the Egyptian advance from Gaza northwards. Four newly arrived Avia S-199s, flown by Lou Lenart, Modi Alon, Ezer Weizman and Eddie Cohen, struck Egyptian forces near Isdud. Although damage was minimal, two aircraft were lost and Cohen killed, the attack nevertheless achieved its goal and the Egyptians stopped. The Israeli Air Force scored its first aerial victories on June 3, when Modi Alon, flying Avia D.112, shot down a pair of Egyptian Air Force DC-3s which had just bombed Tel Aviv. The first dogfight against enemy fighters took place a few days later, on June 8, when Gideon Lichtaman shot down an Egyptian Spitfire.[3] As the war progressed, more and more aircraft were procured, including Boeing B-17s, Bristol Beaufighters, de Havilland Mosquitoes and P-51D Mustangs, marking a shift in the balance of power.

Suez Crisis

The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh, Israel's part in the 1956 Suez Crisis. At the launch of the operation, on October 29, Israeli P-51D Mustangs severed telephone lines in the Sinai, some using their propellor blades,[4] while 16 IAF DC-3s escorted by fighters dropped Israeli paratroopers behind Egyptian lines at the Mitla Pass and Et-Tur.

The Six-Day War

In three hours on the morning of June 5, 1967, the first day of the Six Day War, the Israeli Air Force executed Operation Focus, crippling the opposing Arab air forces and attaining air supremacy for the remainder of the war. In a surprise attack, the IAF destroyed most of the Egyptian Air Force while its planes were still on the ground. By the end of the day, with surrounding Arab countries also drawn into the fighting, the IAF had mauled the Syrian and Jordanian air forces as well, striking as far as Iraq. After six days of fighting Israel claimed a total of 452 Arab aircraft destroyed, of which 49 were aerial victories.

The War of Attrition

Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, Egypt initiated the War of Attrition, hoping to prevent Israel from consolidating its hold over the lands captured in 1967. Israel's goal in the fighting was to exact heavy losses on the opposing side, in order to facilitate a ceasefire. The Israeli Air Force consequently undertook repeated bombings of strategic targets deep within enemy territory and repeatedly challenged Arab air forces for aerial supremacy, all the while supporting operations by Israel's ground and naval forces. 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. Fear of further escalation and superpower involvement brought the war to a conclusion. By the end of August 1970, the Israeli Air Force had claimed 111 aerial kills while admitting losing only four aircraft to Arab fighters.

Yom Kippur War

During the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, the Israeli Air Force shot down 334 enemy warplanes in air-to-air combat for the loss of only five of its own. A further 180 Arab aircraft were shot down or lost due to circumstances other than aerial combat. The IAF lost 104 aircraft, nearly all due to anti aircraft artillery or surface-to-air missile fire. These included the medium range SA-6 mobile SAM batteries and point defence systems such as the short range Shilka radar guided SPAAG and the SA-7 Strela MANPADS (employed by Egyptian infantry). Older but longer range and still very dangerous SA-2 and SA-3 anti aircraft missile batteries provided additional air defense coverage. Nevertheless, throughout the war, the IAF managed to assist IDF ground forces, and kept up strikes on targets in Syria and Egypt. As the war progressed, the IAF regained air supremacy by adopting new tactics and upgrading its ECM capabilities.

Growth (1973–1982)

Since the war most of Israel's military aircraft have been obtained from the United States. Among these are the F-4 Phantom II, A-4 Skyhawk, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Israeli Air Force has also operated a number of domestically-produced types such as the IAI Nesher, and later, the more advanced IAI Kfir, which were unauthorised derivatives of the French Dassault Mirage 5. The Kfir was adapted to utilize a more powerful US engine, produced under license in Israel.

On June 7, 1981 eight IAF F-16A fighters covered by six F-15A jets carried out Operation Opera to destroy the Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osiraq. Among the pilots that took part in the attack was the late Colonel Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut.

1982 Lebanon War and its aftermath

Prior to the 1982 Lebanon War, Syria, with the help of the Soviet Union, had built up an overlapping network of surface-to-air missiles in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. On June 9, 1982 the Israeli Air Force carried out Operation Mole Cricket 19, crippling the Syrian air defence array. In subsequent aerial battles against the Syrian Air Force, the IAF managed to shoot down 86 Syrian aircraft without losing a single fighter plane in an air to air combat. 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 many years after the war's official end, and throughout Israeli presence in Lebanon, the IAF continued to mount attacks on Hezbollah and PLO positions in south Lebanon. On October 1, 1985, In response to a PLO terrorist attack which murdered three Israeli civilians in Cyprus, the Israeli air force carried out Operation Wooden Leg. The strike involved the bombing of PLO Headquarters in Tunis, by F-15 Eagles. This was the longest combat mission ever undertaken by the IAF, a stretch of 2,300 kilometers, involving in-flight refueling by an IAF Boeing 707. As a result, PLO headquarters and barracks were either destroyed or damaged.

1990s and beyond

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. Since the 1990s, the IAF has upgraded most of its aircraft with advanced Israeli-made systems, improving their performances. In 1990 the IAF began receiving the AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship and started equipping its aircraft with the Rafael Python 4, Popeye, and Derby missiles.

During the first Gulf War of 1991, Israel was attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles. Israeli Air Force pilots were on constant stand-by in their cockpits throughout the conflict, ready to fly to Iraq to retaliate. Diplomatic pressure as well as denial of IFF (Identify Foe or Friend) transponder codes 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 1991, the IAF carried out Operation Solomon which brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

In the late 1990s, the IAF began acquiring the F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) and the F-16I Sufa (Storm), manufactured specially for Israel according to IAF requirements. The first of 102 F-16I Sufas arrived in April, 2004 joining an F-16 fleet that had already been the largest outside the US Air Force. The IAF also purchased the advanced Israeli air-to-air missile Rafael Python 5, with full-sphere capability, as well as a special version of the Apache Longbow, designated AH-64DI or Saraph. In 2005 the Israeli Air Force received modified Gulfstream V jets ("Nachshon"), equipped with advanced intelligence systems made by Israel Military Industries.

The Israeli Air Force took an extensive part in IDF operations during the al-Aqsa Intifada, including the controversial targeted killings of Palestinian militant leaders, most notably Salah Shakhade, Ahmed Yassin and Abed al-Aziz Rantissi. While this policy was criticized due to the collateral damage caused in certain instances, Israel claims it is vital in its fight against terrorism and that IAF pilots do whatever they can to avoid civilian casualties, including aborting strikes. In 2007, Israel achieved a civilian casualty ratio of 1:30, or one civilian casualty for every thirty combatant casualties, in its airstrikes on militants in the Palestinian territories.[5] Commentators have noted that, "No army in history has ever had a better ratio of combatants to civilians killed in a comparable setting".[6]

2006 Lebanon War

The IAF played a critical role in the 2006 Lebanon War. IAF strikes – mainly, though not exclusively, in southern Lebanon – were aimed at stopping rocket launches by Hezbollah's militia targeting Israeli towns. The IAF flew more than 12,000 combat missions during this war. The most notable, taking place during the second day of the war, resulted in the IAF destroying 59 Iranian-supplied medium- and long-range missile launchers in just 34 minutes.[7] Widespread condemnation followed the July 30 IAF airstrike on a building suspected to be a militant hideout near the village of Qana, in which 28 civilians were killed. Hezbollah shot down an IAF CH-53 Yas'ur helicopter on the last day of the war, killing five crew members.[8][9] Israeli aircraft also shot down three of Hezbollah's Iranian-made[10] aerial drones during the conflict.[11]

Operation Cast Lead and recent activities (2008-2011)

In September 2007, the Israeli Air Force carried out Operation Orchard, destroying a Syrian nuclear reactor. During Operation Cast Lead (2008–2009), Israel Air Force had a main role in destroying Hamas facilities and targets in the Gaza Strip, carrying out more than 2,360 air strikes.

According to a CBS news report, in January 2009 Israeli planes struck a convoy of trucks in Sudan that was headed for Egypt and carrying weapons apparently meant for the Gaza Strip. 17 trucks had been bombed and 39 smugglers had been killed in the strike.[12] On April 5, 2011 a car driving from Port Sudan Airport to Port Sudan was destroyed by a missile. Both passengers were killed and one of the passengers may have been a senior military commander of the Palestinian Hamas. According to the Sudanese Foreign Minister it was an Israeli attack.

Organization

See also: List of Israeli Air Force aircraft squadrons

Administrative organization

Operational Organization

Aircraft

Current

Note that multiple sources provide different numbers:
Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service
(IISS / INSS)		 In service
(Flightglobal)		 In service
(Other sources)
Fighter aircraft
Boeing F-15 Eagle  United States air superiority fighter F-15A "Baz" 27[17] } 42[18]
F-15C "Baz" 17[17]
F-15B "Baz" 7[17] } 16[18]
F-15D "Baz" 11[17]
Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle  United States strike fighter F-15I "Ra'am" 25[17] 25[18]
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon  United States mulitirole fighter F-16A "Netz" 90[17] } 147[18] ≤ 103[19]
F-16B "Netz" 16[17] ≤ 22[19]
F-16D "Barak" 49[17] ≤ 54[19]
F-16C "Barak" 52[17] 76[18] ≤ 81[19]
F-16I "Sufa" 102[17] 100[18] 101[20]
Trainer aircraft
Grob G-120  Germany trainer aircraft G-120AI "Snunit" 17[17] 17[18] 27[20]
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II  United States trainer aircraft T-6A "Efroni" 20[17] 20[18]
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk  United States ground attack / trainer TA-4H/J "Ayit" 26[17] 20[21] 20[20]
Transport / Aerial refueling / Aerial firefighting / Utility / Signals intelligence / Maritime patrol / AEW
Air Tractor AT-802  United States aerial firefighting AT-802F – 7[18] 7[15][16]
Beechcraft Bonanza  United States utility A-36 "Khofit" 22[17] – 22[20]
Beechcraft Super King Air (C-12 Huron)  United States utility / transport / trainer B-200/T/CT "Tzofit" } 29[20] 22[18] 22[22]
EW / ELINT / SIGINT RC-12D/K "Kookiya" 7[18] 7[22]
IAI SeaScan  Israel maritime patrol 1124N "Shahaf" 3[17] 3[18] 3[20]
Gulfstream G550  United States SEMA G500 "Nahshon-Shavit" 3[17] 3[18]
CAEW G550 "Nahshon-Eitam" 3[17] 4[18]
Lockheed C-130 Hercules  United States tactical transport C-130E "Qarnaf" 5[17] } 11[18] } 12[20]
C-130H "Qarnaf" 2[17]
aerial refueling KC-130H "Qarnaf" 5[17] 5[18] 3[20]
Boeing 707–320  United States heavy transport / EW 707 "Re'em" 9[17] 7[18]
aerial refueling KC-707 "Saknai" 4[17] 7[18] 8[23]
Helicopters
Eurocopter Panther  European Union maritime patrol AS-565SA "Atalef" 7[17] 5[18] 5[20]
Bell AH-1 Cobra  United States attack hellicopter AH-1 "Tzefa" 33[17] 49[18]
Boeing AH-64 Apache  United States attack hellicopter AH-64A "Peten" 30[17] } 50[18] 27[20]
AH-64D "Saraph" 18[17] 17[20]
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion  United States heavy transport CH-53D "Yas'ur 2025"[24] 38[17] 25[18]
Sikorsky S-70 (UH-60 Black Hawk)  United States tactical transport S-70A-50/55 / UH-60A/L "Yanshuf" 49[17] 49[18] 49[20]
Bell 206 (OH-58 Kiowa)  United States light transport / trainer 206B "Saifan" 34[17] 18[18] 9[25]
Unmanned aerial vehicles
IAI Eitan  Israel MALE Heron-TP "Eitan" + + +
IAI Heron  Israel MALE Heron-1 "Shoval" + + +
Elbit Hermes 450  Israel Tactical UAV Hermes 450S "Zik" + + +
BlueBird SpyLite  Israel Mini UAV SkyLite B – +[26] –

Future

Aircraft Origin Type Versions Notes
Fighter aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Multinational stealth multirole fighter F-35I[27][28] 20 pending delivery (+ option for another 55).[29][30]
Trainer aircraft
Alenia Aermacchi M-346  Italy transonic jet trainer  ? 30 aircraft. Final selection expected in 2012.[31]
KAI T-50 Golden Eagle  South Korea supersonic jet trainer  ?
Transport / Utility aircraft
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules  United States tactical transport C-130J-30 "Shimshon" 3 ordered, expected in 2013[32]
Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey  United States tiltrotor transport  ? Under evaluation.[33]
Helicopters
Boeing AH-64 Apache  United States attack helicopter AH-64D "Saraph" Total of 10. Four AH-64A's to be upgraded.[20]
Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk  United States tactical transport AH-60 Battlehawk Total of 18.[20]
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion  United States heavy transport CH-53D "Yas'ur 2025" 1 will be rebuilt and upgraded to 2025 standard.[24]
Sikorsky CH-53K Super Stallion  United States heavy transport  ? Pending evaluation.[34]
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Elbit Hermes 900  Israel MALE  ? 3 systems to be provided soon.[35]
Aeronautics Defense Orbiter  Israel Mini UAV  ? Selected 2011.[26]

Historic

Main article: List of aircraft of the Israeli Air Force

Munitions and Space Systems

Main article: List of Israeli Air Force Munitions

Personnel

Pilot selection and training

IAF Grob-120A
IAF Super King Air B-200
IAF T-6 Texan II
Main article: Israeli Air Force flight academy

Thirty nine Israeli pilots have been credited with ace status, having shot down at least 5 enemy aircraft. Of these, 10 have shot down at least eight jet planes. The top ranking Israeli ace is Colonel Giora Epstein, who shot down seventeen enemy planes. Epstein holds the world record for jet aircraft shot down, and the most aircraft of any type shot down since the Korean War.

Although women had served as pilots during the Israeli War of Independence and a few years thereafter, the Israeli Defence Forces had until 1995 denied women the opportunity to become pilots. In 1995, civilian pilot and aeronautical engineer Alice Miller successfully petitioned the Israel High Court of Justice to take the Israeli Air Force pilot training exams, after being rejected on grounds of gender. Though president Ezer Weizman, a former IAF commander, told Miller that she'd be better off staying home and darning socks, the court in 1996 eventually ruled that the IAF could not exclude qualified women from pilot training. Even though Miller would not pass the exams, the ruling was a watershed, opening doors for women in new IDF roles. After the prohibition had been lifted, the first female graduate was F-16 navigator "Shari" in 1998, followed three years later by Roni Zuckerman, the first female jet fighter pilot in IAF history.[36][37]

Ranks

IAF ranks are identical to other Israel Defense Forces ranks except for the use of silver against a dark blue background.

Officers

Insignia
Title Segen Mishne Segen Seren Rav Seren Sgan Aluf Aluf Mishne Tat Aluf Aluf 1 Rav Aluf 2
U.S equivalent Second
Lieutenant		 First
Lieutenant		 Captain Major Lieutenant
Colonel		 Colonel Brigadier
General		 Major
General		 Lieutenant
General

1 - Commander of the Israeli Air Force
2 - IDF Chief of General Staff, rarely an air force officer

List of IAF Commanders

Insignia

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.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "About the IAF - Mission Statement". Israeli Air Force. http://www.iaf.org.il/34-en/IAF.aspx. Retrieved October 12, 2011. 
  2. ^ "IDF Units - Air Force". Israel Defense Forces. http://www.idf.il/1513-en/Dover.aspx. Retrieved October 12, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Attributed Israeli Air Combat Victories". Aces.safarikovi.org. http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories/victories-israel.html. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  4. ^ Norton 2004, p. 125
  5. ^ Harel, Amos (December 30, 2007). "Pinpoint attacks on Gaza more precise". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/pinpoint-attacks-on-gaza-more-precise-1.236163. Retrieved October 11, 2011. 
  6. ^ Dershowitz, Alan (January 3, 2008). "Targeted Killing Is Working, So Why Is The Press Not Reporting It?". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/targeted-killing-is-worki_b_79616.html,. 
  7. ^ Benn, Aluf (October 24, 2006). "Report: IAF wiped out 59 Iranian missile launchers in 34 minutes". Haaretz. Israel. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/778485.html. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  8. ^ Katz, Yaacov (August 12, 2011). "Security and Defense: Coordinating capabilities". Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=233506. Retrieved August 12, 2011. 
  9. ^ Egozi, Arie (August 6, 2006). "Israel studies CH-53 shoot-down". Flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/08/22/208558/israel-studies-ch-53-shoot-down.html. Retrieved August 12, 2011. 
  10. ^ Schiff, Ze'ev; Stern, Yoav (November 10, 2004). "Report: Iran admits to supplying Hezbollah with drones". Haaretz. Israel. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=499935&contrassID=1&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  11. ^ "Israeli Airstrikes Target Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon". Fox News. August 7, 2006. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,207259,00.html. 
  12. ^ "Report: IAF struck arms convoy in Sudan in January". Ynet. March 26, 2009. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3692507,00.html. Retrieved March 26, 2009. 
  13. ^ "IAF Opens New “Eitan” UAV Squadron to Operational Use, 21 December 2010 | Israel Defense Forces". Idfspokesperson.com. December 21, 2010. http://idfspokesperson.com/2010/12/21/iaf-opens-new-eitan-uav-squadron-to-operational-use-21-december-2010/. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  14. ^ Katz, Yaakov (September 29, 2010). "And they struck them with blindness". Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Features/Article.aspx?id=189617. Retrieved September 29, 2010. 
  15. ^ a b "אתר חיל-האוויר". Iaf.org.il. http://www.iaf.org.il/4368-36736-he/IAF.aspx. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  16. ^ a b Blumenkrantz, Zohar (December 3, 2010). "Israel's new squadron of fire-fighting planes is now ready for action – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News". Haaretz. Israel. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-s-new-squadron-of-fire-fighting-planes-is-now-ready-for-action-1.358236. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "The Military Balance 2010". Page 256. International Institute for Strategic Studies, February 3, 2010.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Flightglobal World Air Forces – December 2011". Flight International. December 13, 2011. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/world-air-forces-2011-2012-90190.aspx. Retrieved December 13, 2011. 
  19. ^ a b c d http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The Institute for National Security Studies", chapter Israel, 2010, [1] September 20, 2010.
  21. ^ "Flightglobal World Air Forces – December 2009". Flight International. January 4, 2010. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/world-air-forces-december-2009-44572.aspx. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  22. ^ a b "Israel Air and Space Force/Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal (Heyl Ha'Avir) Order of Battle". Scramble.nl. http://www.scramble.nl/il.htm. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  23. ^ "Israel Bolsters KC-707 Refueling Fleet". Aviation Week. January 15, 2010. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/awst/2010/01/11/AW_01_11_2010_p22-194785.xml&headline=Israel. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  24. ^ a b "Fleet pressure prompts Israel to rebuild scrapped CH-53". Flight International. June 14, 2010. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/03/03/353871/fleet-pressure-prompts-israel-to-rebuild-scrapped-ch-53.html. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  25. ^ "2009 Source Book: World Military Aircraft Inventory", January 26, 2009.
  26. ^ a b Israeli air force boosts mini UAS capability, August 10, 2011.
  27. ^ "F-35I – Defense-Update Newscast". Defence-update.net. August 15, 2010. http://www.defence-update.net/wordpress/tag/f-35i. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  28. ^ "Israel To Buy F-35s With Cockpit Mods". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/awst/2010/08/23/AW_08_23_2010_p32-249396.xml&headline=Israel%20To%20Buy%20F-35s%20With%20Cockpit%20Mods. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  29. ^ "Israel set to build wings for some 800 F-35s". Reuters. August 30, 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67T2JX20100830. 
  30. ^ "Israel to purchase F-35 stealth jets – Israel News, Ynetnews". Ynetnews.com. June 20, 1995. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3955420,00.html. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  31. ^ "Israeli jet trainer contest heats up". Flight International. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/18/355662/israeli-jet-trainer-contest-heats-up.html. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  32. ^ Israel Acquires Additional Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules United States Department of Defense, April 8, 2011
  33. ^ "Israeli air force to take second look at V-22 Osprey". Flight International. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/03/15/354155/israeli-air-force-to-take-second-look-at-v-22-osprey.html. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  34. ^ "Israel ditches Apache upgrade plan, commits to CH-53K". Flight International. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/30/343883/israel-ditches-apache-upgrade-plan-commits-to-ch-53k.html. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  35. ^ Danny Shalom. "The Israeli Air Force to receive its first three “Hermes 900” remote-piloted aircraft systems. The UAV has a range of thousands of kilometers". Israeldefense.com. http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=472&ArticleID=444. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  36. ^ Norton 2004, p. 105
  37. ^ Feldinger, Lauren Gelfond (September 21, 2008). "Skirting history". The Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=114834. Retrieved October 11, 2011. 

Bibliography

External links
Israeli Air Force
History


Branches and components
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Israeli Air Force – List of Aircraft Squadrons
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