Tag: IAF

Israel has signed an order for more than two billion $ for the purchase of 12 CH-53K helicopters, with an option to purchase six more. The first helicopters will arrive in Israel by 2026 and will replace the old CH-53D Yasur helicopters, that are planned for decommissioning in 2025.

Israel requests Washington for urgent delivery of two KC-46A aerial tankers, to bolster its capability of operations at long ranges. While the IAF already has several aerial tankers based on the Boeing 707, they are too old and inefficient to support a full-scale operational campaign of the size and complexity the IAF requires. This episode discusses the options Israel has to support this capability

Israel’s Air Force (IAF) today officially inaugurated the special operations wing, a combat formation that groups the air-force operated elite units under one wing. Based in Palmachim Air Force Base south of Tel Aviv, the 7th Special Operations Wing includes the 669 combat rescue squadron, Shaldag Special Tactics Squadron, and the Tactical Air Operations Unit. The new wing will soon establish a new intelligence to provide intelligence support for the special operations. A training center scheduled to open will complete the wing’s structure in 2022.

IAI’s combat-proven Conformal Airborne Early Warning and Control (CAEW) aircraft have a proven record performing missions better than the bigger legacy airborne warning and control (AWACS) such as the E-3, for longer durations, at a much lower cost.

The Israel Air Force declared its F-35I unit operational today, following the year-long initial operational capability qualification of 140 Squadron ('Golden Eagle') the first IAF unit operating the Fifth Generation fighter (dubbed 'Adir' by the IAF). By the summer of 2018, the squadron is expected to receive six more fighters.

The two F-35s were escorted by F-16I Sufa fighters. No. 140 squadron, the IAF first F-35 fighter squadron is expected to achieve initial operational capability in few months and have nine operational jets within a year.

The first two F-35s expected to land in Israel next week will be the first 5th Generation jet fighters the U.S. hands out to a foreign ally. The two ADIR Jets are only the beginning. Over the next eight years, Israel will receive 50 aircraft forming two full ADIR squadrons flying the F-35. The unique capabilities of the new fighter will provide the Israel Air Force a game-changing platform that has not been seen in the region since the introduction of the F-15 Eagle (by the IAF), 40 years ago.

The multi-billion dollar tender for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), for which Rafale was shortlisted in 2012, has been withdrawn by the government, after New delhi committed to buy only 36 of the aircraft in April this year. India planned to buy 126 jet fighters for the replacement of its aging MiG-27, MiG-27 and Jaguar fighter jets. According to the plans, 108 of the aircraft would be produced in India and 18 to be imported. The procurement of 36 Rafales, to be built in France will meet only a small part of gap the Indian Air Force has in its fighter jet fleet

Indian Air Force Su-30MKI and RAF Typhoon aircraft are operating in mixed formations as part of the fourth Indradhanush exercise, a 10 day deployment demonstrating trans continental air power projection. This year the deployment includes 190 personnel operating Su-30 fighters, IL-78 tankers, C-17 strategic and C-130J tactical airlift aircraft

India is doubling the number of Rafale jet fighters it intends to buy from France, increasing the quantity of aircraft built in France from 18 to 36. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and French president Francois Hollande have reached the agreement during their summit meeting today in Paris. The procurement will be part of a government-to-government (G2G) deal worth $7.5 billion.

Israel has phased out the AH-1S Cobra helicopter gunship, in favour of using more drones, the Reuters news agency reports. The increasing reliance on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) has evolved through the years, as the unmanned aircraft assumed increasingly complex missions, and proved themselves as an indispensable asset in the continuous war against terror along and beyond Israel's borders.

"By the end of 2014 the Israel Air Force will be able to do in less than 24 hours what it did in three days of fighting during the Second Lebanon War of 2006". IAF commander Maj. General Amir Eshel

In a ceremony held today at the Nevatim Israel Air Force base, the new C-130J Super Hercules military aircraft landed in Israel. The new...

The first M-346 advanced trainer for the Israeli Air & Space Force was rolled out yesterday in a ceremony held at Alenia Aermacchi’s plant...