Tag Archive for IAF

| March 30, 2014
No comments

A high-flying selfie too good to censor

Israel Air Force posts photo of one of its pilots flying over Tel Aviv on its Facebook page without customarily censoring his face.

By

 

The Israeli military is normally very strict about protecting the identities of their pilots, but one flier’s selfie seems to have proved too impressive not to share on social media.

The selfie that is now the Israel Air Force Facebook page's cover picture. - Photo courtesy: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

The selfie that is now the Israel Air Force Facebook page’s cover picture. – Photo courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The picture of the aerobatic team pilot powering over Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square appeared on Sunday on the Israeli Air Force’s official Facebook page bearing the hashtag #selfie. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 21, 2014
No comments

Israel Air Force Reveals New Cutting Edge Italian Training Jet

2 M-346 training jets named the “Lavi” were displayed Thursday, as part of lucrative defense industry deal with Italy.

By Kobi Finkler, Ari Yashar

 

The Israeli Air Force held a ceremony on Thursday to reveal its latest acquisition: two advanced M-346 jet planes from Italy.

LM-346 -Screenshot

M-346 –“Lavi” – Screenshot

Each plane costs an estimated 20 million euros (roughly $27.5 million); the IAF plans to purchase 30 of them. They are capable of speeds of mach 1.15 (roughly 875 miles per hour).

The plane, which is touted as “the integrated training solution for 21st century air forces,” will be used in advanced courses for IAF fighter pilots. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 7, 2014
No comments

Israel dispatches IAF to intercept Approaching Syrian Warplanes

The Israel Air Force guaranteed a secure border, with no contact between two air forces on Friday afternoon, but it was a close call.

By Tova Dvorin

 

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) was deployed Friday afternoon after Syrian warplanes approached the Israel-Syrian border, according to Channel 2. 

F15 I,'Ra'am' ('Thunder') A multi-purpose long-range fighter jet, mainly used for attack and interception strikes. - Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

F15 I,’Ra’am’ (‘Thunder’) A multipurpose long-range fighter jet, mainly used for attack and interception strikes. – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The Syrian warplanes were within just a few hundred kilometers to Israel Friday, according to the daily, as it struck rebel outposts near Al Quneitra.

The two air forces did not come into contact with one another, but the IDF does not take threats to Israeli airspace lightly – especially in light of recent spillover from the ongoing Syrian Civil War. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags:
| March 6, 2014
No comments

Behind the scenes & IDF preparations to seize Iran weapons ship

 

UAV, riot gear, advanced medical facilities & full documentation of events: the IDF Command has learned lessons from the Mavi Marmara incident.

By Yoav Zitun

 

 

‘Operation Full Disclosure’

There may be an air of festivity among the defense establishment in Israel over the successful operation to seize an Iranian weapons ship. But the way back to Israel is still perilous for the troops escorting the Klos C, captured Tuesday night 1,500 km from Israel’s shores.

The Klos C being escorted by Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos - Courtesy IDF Spokesperson's Unit

The Klos C being escorted by Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos – Courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The IDF has not yet ruled out the chances of an attack on the flotilla of Israel Navy gunships accompanying the Klos-C on its journey to port in Eilat. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 5, 2014
No comments

2 Israeli Air Force pilots jailed after maps found on smartphones

 

IAF officials say incident undermines national security posed by mobile technology and enunciates that air force culture must be reconditioned.

By

 

Two Israeli combat pilots were jailed for five days and 12 others were disciplined for storing maps and other classified information on their smartphones, Army Radio reported this week.

Air force pilots.

Israel Air Force pilots.- Photo: Daniel Bar-On

The incident underscores the security risks posed by mobile technology and demonstrates that the culture of the air force must be overhauled, Israel Air Force officials said.

“The ease of photographing and sending pictures, maps and classified information has become the enemy of information security and endangers operational activity,” an air force officer said.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| January 31, 2014
No comments

Israel’s Defense Minister: ‘We Will Hurt Those Who Hurt Us’

Minister Moshe Ya’alon vows not to allow Hamas to attack Israelis ‘just because they are Jews.’

By Tova Dvorin

 

Ya’alon spoke at a ceremony from Germany’s Platform 17 Friday, where he vowed to hold Hamas accountable for Thursday’s rocket fire on Israel.

“We view Hamas as responsible for what is happening in Gaza, and if it doesn’t know how to impose its authority over the [terror] cells that fire [rockets] and attack Israel, it will pay a heavy price,” Ya’alon declared. “The IDF and security forces will continue to pursue anyone who shoots at Israel or tries to carry out attacks against it, and will not hesitate to hurt him and the people who send him.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| January 29, 2014
No comments

Israel Air Force chief: IAF will destroy Hezbollah bases, even in residential neighborhoods

 

IAF head, Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel says IDF’s military capabilities are 15 times greater than it was during last conflict in 2006 with Hezbollah.

By REUTERS
 

 

Israel accused Lebanon’s Hezbollah guerrillas on Wednesday of putting “thousands” of bases in residential buildings and said it would destroy these in a future conflict, even at the cost of civilian lives.

The unusually explicit threat by air force chief Major-General Amir Eshel appeared to be part of an effort by Israeli officials to prepare world opinion for high civilian casualties in any new confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 9, 2014
No comments

Israeli Air Force Hits Gaza Terrorists Just After Mortar Attack

Israeli Air Force drone strikes terrorists preparing to launch rockets into southern Israeli towns.

By Ari Soffer

 

 

The Israeli Air Force struck terrorist targets in Gaza Wednesday morning, wounded two Palestinian terrorists in the south of the Islamist-controlled territory, medical and security sources said.

“Two Palestinians were hit and injured by an Israeli drone while they were riding on a motorbike east of Khan Yunis,” Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP.

Hamas security sources described the two as “militants”, without saying to which group they belonged.

The IDF confirmed the strike in a statement, saying it had “intercepted terrorists during their final preparations to launch rockets towards Israel”. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| January 4, 2014
No comments

Analysis: Examining the future of the IDF

Does Israel’s air force have a self-inflicted monopoly on firepower, should the IDF reassess and be investing more in special forces & cyber-ops, or are boots on the ground what is essential in winning a war?

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

 

 

 

As the Middle East becomes ever more anarchic and unpredictable, a group of high-ranking former and current military figures gathered at Bar-Ilan University this week for what would turn out to be one of the liveliest and frank public debates on the future of the IDF ever held.

BESA

The conference, called IDF Force Structure, was organized by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and Israel Defense magazine, and contained two panels of speakers, each of which used their rich personal experience in the security world to build up deep and well-founded arguments on how Israel should tailor its armed forces in the first quarter of the 21st century. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 3, 2014
No comments

Arrow 3 missile interceptor test successfully carried out

 

 

The 2nd interceptor test was conducted Friday morning from Israel’s Air Force base Palmachim.

Arrow’s system is designed to reinforce Israel’s protective multilayer defenses against any long-ranged missile threat.

By Yoav Zitu

 

Another successful trial of the Arrow 3 interceptor was carried out at 8 am Friday morning. It was the interceptor’s second flight test and it was conducted within a trials field in the Palmachim Air Force base.

Arrow 3 trial (Photo: Defense Ministry)

Arrow 3 trial – Photo: Defense Ministry

The main advantage of the Arrow 3 interceptor is in its ability to perform a change of flight direction while flying towards long-ranged target missiles. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 30, 2013
No comments

Israeli Air Force changed policy to let pregnant pilots keep flying

 

Revision in regulations now allows expecting women to continue flying during 15th – 25th week of pregnancy. Flights will be for transports only, less than 4 hours long

By Yossi Yehoshua

 

The Israeli Air Force has decided to let pregnant pilots keep flying.

It was 15 years ago that the first woman graduated from the Air Force Flight Academy, and since then, many other high-quality women have reached the same prestigious stage. Now these pilots will only have to take a minor pregnancy recess to keep up with their male counterparts.

Women pilots in the IAF (Photo: Tal Shachar)

Women pilots in the IAF – Photo: Tal Shachar

According to the recent change in policy, women will no longer be grounded if they’re pregnant.
Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| November 26, 2013
No comments

US Air Force & IAF hold largest joint-military exercise in Israel’s history

 

Greece, Italy, Israel and the U.S. are holding joint aerial training exercise above Israel with about 100 aircraft.

IDF points out: Joint exercise has nothing to do with Iran

By Yoav Zitun

Some 50 fighter jets belonging to Israel, Greece, the US and Italy took off Sunday morning from the Ovda air base, signaling the beginning of the largest military air exercise in Israel’s history.

Israel Air Force - Phot courtesy: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Israel Air Force – Phot courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The Blue Flag exercise is being hosted by Israel will continue until Thursday and will include more than 60 jet fighters among them the Tornado, AMX and F-15. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| October 23, 2013
No comments

Kuwait Report: Israeli warplanes destroy Syrian missiles headed to Hezbollah

 

Kuwaiti newspaper quotes unidentified Israeli security official reporting that the IAF targeted a missile shipment along Syrian-Lebanese border. This report follows local Lebanese reports suggesting Israeli activity in its airspace.

IDF declines to comment.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

The Israel Air Force once again prevented a shipment of advanced missiles to Hezbollah along the Syrian-Lebanese border, a Kuwaiti newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Israel Air Force F-16I sufa – Photo courtesy: IDF’s Spokesperson’s office

The Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida quoted a senior Israeli security source as saying that on Monday Israeli warplanes targeted a missiles shipment. The report did not say whether the attack occurred in Syria or Lebanon.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| October 13, 2013
No comments

F-35 fighter to Be ‘Cornerstone’ of Israeli Air Force


Israeli defense minister visits American production plant for new F-35 advanced  fighter jets.

Pentagon chooses Israeli-made helmet for all F-35 USAF pilots.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon last week visited the Lockheed Martin assembly factory in Texas and called the new F-35 fighter jet “a cornerstone in building” the Israeli Air Force of the future.

F-35 Will Be 'Cornerstone' of Israel Air Force

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon checks out a F-35

Israel is one of the first countries on the list to receive the F-35 when America begins shipping to its foreign allies.

Like the F-16 before it, Yaalon said he had no doubt the F-35 would be a great asset and “give the Israel Air Force great operational abilities.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| October 11, 2013
No comments

IAF completes long-range mission drill regardless of Iran’s rhetoric

 

Israel Air Force drills midair refueling & missions far from Israel.

IDF Spokesman’s Office said, “When one mentions that ‘all options are on the table,’ it’s clear that military operations are also being talked about.” 

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

 

Amid tensions with Iran, IAF squadrons carried out exercises this week to practice long-range missions.

IAF plane refuels mid-flight during long range mission drill - Photo Courtesy: IDF Spokesperson's Office

IAF plane refuels mid-flight during long range mission drill – Photo Courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Office

Squadrons carried out midair refueling in the course of the advanced training, testing the capabilities of fighter jets to operate far from Israel.

“When one mentions that ‘all options are on the table,’ it’s clear that military operations are also being talked about,” the IDF Spokesman’s Office said on Thursday.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »