Israeli Air Force

The Israeli Air Force (FAI; in Hebrew: זרוע ויר והחלל, transl. Zroa Haavar VeHahalal" Air and Space Arm ", commonly known as חיל האויר , transl. Hel Haavar, " Air Force " ) is the Air Force of Israel Defense Forces. His current commander in chief is aluf ( Major General ) Ido Nehoshtan, And the force has about 700 aircraft. Over the years, the IDF maintained air superiority against its rivals , showing high performance in combat.

Training (1948-1957)
The Israeli Air Force was formed when the State of Israel was declared in 1948, and found himself under immediate attack. The organization that preceded it, Sherut Avir, Was the air arm of the Haganah. The IAF 's humble beginnings made its first aerial victories particularly impressive, the first formations were assembled from a hodgepodge of Aircraft civilians recruited or donated and converted to military use. Several obsolete combat aircraft (many of them ex-Luftwaffe) Used in WWII were obtained quickly, using a variety of sources to supplement this fleet. For many years the backbone of the IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199 (Essentially Messerschmitt Bf 109 purchased from Czechoslovakia) And 62 Spitfires LF Mk IXE. Creativity and judicious use of resources were the bedrock of Israeli aerial military successes in the beginning, not the technology - which at the time was still generally lower than that used by opponents of Israel.

During the 1950 the France became a major supplier of warplanes to Israel, but relations between the two countries have deteriorated just before the Six Day War, when France declared an embargo on arms sales to the country. In response, the then- fledgling national manufacturer of aircraft Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) significantly increased its production of weapons and aircraft ( initially based on the French models ), and Israel ended up moving to the United States as its main supplier of military equipment.

Six Day War
During the Six Day War the Israeli Air Force achieved air supremacy to discard most of the enemy air forces on the first day of combat. In June 5 of 1967 on call Operation Focus, The IDF destroyed most of Egyptian Air Force while their planes were still on the ground. At the end of the day the air forces Syria and Jordanian had also been seriously damaged. The Israelis had a total of 451 aerial victories and lost only 10 aircraft.

War of Attrition
In the conflict that became known as War of Attrition or " friction ", the IDF began to conduct direct combat with other aircraft (dogfight) And bomb strategic targets in enemy territory. Certain transactions stood out:
 * September 11 of 1969: IAF planes shot down 12 Egyptian jet fighters
 * September 26 of 1969 - Operation Rooster 53: helicopters Super Frelon and Sikorsky CH-53 Yas'ur FAI lead Paratroopers a raid to capture and steal an advanced P-12 radar Soviet used by Egypt. Near Suez. A CH-53 helicopter carried the radar of 4 tTied under it.
 * January 7 of 1970: the IDF began conducting attacks against Egyptian targets, forcing them to stop the artillery strikes and commands performed on Israeli forces east of the scattered Suez Canal.
 * July 30 of 1970: the IDF struck and knocked down five fighters MiG -21 Egyptian piloted by Soviets

Ah-64d.jpg of the Israeli Air Force]]Yom Kippur War
In Yom Kippur War in October 1973, The IDF suffered heavy casualties due to Surface to Air Missiles antiaircraft Soviets, however it might be regrouping to help troops on the ground Israel Defense Forces and subsequently bombing targets in Syria and Egypt. One of the first battles in front of the air war was the Air Battle of Ofra, which involved two Phantoms Israelis against 28 MiG-17 and MiG-21 Egyptians, and that resulted with seven Egyptian planes shot down and rout the rest. Helicopters FAI also proved extremely useful in efforts to logistics and rescue injuries (medical evacuation). According to Israel during that war, the IAF lost 102 aircraft, while Egyptian Air Force lost 235 and the Syrian Air Force lost 135 - although these figures are disputed by the governments of these countries.

Growth ( 1973-82 )
Shortly after the Yom Kippur War, most military aircraft of Israel came to be obtained from United States. Among them were the F-4 Phantom II, A-4 Skyhawk, F -15 Eagle, E-2 Hawkeye, Plus many others.

The Israeli Air Force also developed several models themselves, as IAI Nesher - And subsequently the IAI Kfir more advanced - that were derivations of unauthorized Dassault Mirage 5 French ( Israel bought 50 Mirage 5 's Dassault Aviation, they have not be delivered due to the embargo imposed by the government of France during the Yom Kippur War ). The Kfir was adapted to use a more powerful U.S. engine, produced in Israel with permission. In 1976 the IAF participated in the rescue mission known as Operation Entebbe in Uganda, using the C-130 Hercules for transportation.

During the decades of 1980 and 1990 the IAF was equipped with several other American aircraft (F-16 Fighting Falcon, AH-1 Cobra, AH -64 Apache and the very C -130 Hercules ).

Bombing of nuclear reactor Osiraq

 * Main article: Operation Opera

In June 7 of 1981 eight F- 16A Israeli Air Force, escorted by six F- 15A performed the mission known as Operation Opera (Also known as Operation Babylon or Operation Ofra), to bomb and destroy the facilities nuclear to Iraq, in Osiraq. Among the pilots who participated in the attack was the colonel Ilan Ramon. The first astronaut the country. All aircraft returned to Israel with very little fuel.

1982 Lebanon War and its aftermath
During the Lebanon War 1982, IAF planes destroyed much of the air defenses Syrian ( mostly in Operation Mole Cricket 19) and knocked down 100 Syrian aircraft without losing a game even in aerial combat.

During the war attack helicopters AH-1 Cobra IAF destroyed dozens of armored fighting vehicles Syrians and other targets on the ground, as tanks T- 72.

In 1986 a F-4 Phantom FAI, piloted by Captain Aharon Achiaz was damaged and abandoned during the flight , which resulted in the capture of flight navigator Ron Arad by militia Shiite Amal. To date, the whereabouts of Arad was not revealed by their captors.

For many years after the official end of the war, and along the Israeli presence in parts of occupations Lebanon, AH-1 Cobras continued to be used to attack militants positions Hizbollah and PLO in the south of the country.

Bombing of PLO headquarters in Tunis
In response to a terrorist attack of Organization for the Liberation of Palestine (PLO ) that resulted in the deaths of three Israeli civilians in Cyprus the Operation Wooden Leg was held in October 1 of 1985. The attack was the bombing of Headquarters PLO in Tunis, Capital of Tunisia, Made by fighters F -15 Eagle. It was the longest combat mission ever undertaken by the IAF, which covered a distance of 2300 km and involved the refueling of fighters , made by a Boeing 707 FAI. As a result of the operation, the PLO facilities were destroyed or badly damaged.

Technological era (1990 onwards)
During the 1990s the Israeli Air Force updated most of its aircraft with advanced systems produced in Israel, significantly improving the performance of these aircraft. In the middle of the decade the IAF also received the attack helicopter AH-64 Apache, And equipped him with the missile Rafael Python 4, Popeye Missile and Derby Missile.

In 1991 the IAF participated in the Operation Solomon, which brought Ethiopian Jews for Israel. That same year the country was attacked by missiles Scud to IraqDuring the first Gulf War. Israeli Air Force pilots remained on alert in their permanent Cockpits throughout the conflict, ready to fly missions to Iraq in retaliation. Diplomatic pressure from the United States, however , kept the IAF aircraft on the ground while the Coalition aircraft and missile batteries Patriot provided by the U.S. and Netherlands dealt with the Scuds.

After the year 2000 FAI bought F- 15I Ra'am (" Thunder ") and the F- 16I Sufa (" Storm " ), two variations of the most advanced fighter F-15 and F-16, Manufactured specially for Israel according to the determinations of the FAI - which became, after buying a total of 102 F- 16I, the second air force in the world in number of F- 16s, after U.S. Air Force. The IAF also purchased the Israeli air to air missile Rafael Python 5, Considered one of the best in his field, as well as a special version of Apache Longbow, Called the AH- 64DI or Saraph. In 2005 the Israeli Air Force received a Gulfstream V jet designed to measure (called " Nachshon "), Which were modificdos with some of the most modern intelligence systems and advanced in the world, produced by the company Israel Military Industries (IMI).

It is believed that three squads FAI (150, 199 and 248), stationed in airbase of Sedot Mikha, Are responsible for Israel's ability to launch nuclear missiles surface-to- earth, keeping a stock of between 21-100 medium-range ballistic missile Jericho I and Jericho II. The Jericho III, capable of reaching targets throughout the Middle East and Europe. As well as much of Africa and Asia, Would come into service in 2008, when test releases were performed.

During the Second Intifada FAI was largely used for assassinations leaders of militant groups Palestinians, Some of which notable examples were Salah Shakhade, Mahmoud Abu- Hunud, Abu Ali Mustafa, Ahmed Yassin and Abed al -Aziz Rantissi. This policy is controversial, due to collateral damage caused in various situations, Israel claims that these killings are vital in the fight against terrorism and that IAF pilots do what they can to avoid civilian casualties - including aborting certain missions.

After a appeal History made in Supreme Court of Israel. In 1994, by a immigrant Jewess of South Africa, Alice Miller, the Israeli Air Force was instructed to open the doors of his flight school for women. Miller passed his examinations for approval but was rejected on medical examinations and eventually did not qualify. The first pilot received his pilot's license at 2001 ( several flight navigator were approved previously.)

In September 2007 the Israeli Air Force bombed a suspected successfully nuclear reactor Syrian, in [[Operation Orchard].

Selection And Training of pilots
The selection process for the pilots of the Israeli Air Force dates back to Ezer Weizman, widely recognized as the architect of the current FAI and its goal to recruit only "the best in terms of pilots . " His reasoning was that the skill and bravery of the forces on land would be worthless if they are attacked at will from the air, as a consequence , only those perceived as having an innate ability to succeed as pilots for Israel are invited to start training process, and only the most qualified can complete that which is seen by many as the most demanding military selection course in the world.

The potential Israeli pilots are identified prior to reporting for national service (done at 18 years of age), based on factors such as high school grades and positive results on standardized tests, excellent physical condition and high technical skills. Those who meet these criteria and others are invited to attend a selection process called gibush (" cohesion "), lasting six days , which involves physical challenges , mental and Sociometric. Recruits are selected not only for its ability to perform the tasks assigned to them, but by their attitude to run them - for example, how hard support situations and unexpected difficulties , how well groups work and how they deal with the solution of problems and manage situations of natural disasters. Up to 90 % of those who begin gibush are eventually eliminated in their conclusion; the physical demands of gibushim have been reduced recently, after the death of a participant, 2006).

Those that are approved in gibush begin a journey of three years to get their badges aviator, a journey that will include an extensive flight training , infantry training , courses for the official addition of studies to obtain an academic degree. The pilot applicants are evaluated constantly, and the vast majority of those who start the courses of flight does not arrive at the end of the program. Those who do not pass the course may remain in the air force in a ground position, or transferring to a unit army. Depending on the stage they were eliminated from the course.

Still in flight school, future pilots are classified and assigned to different types of aircraft. A few become fighter pilots (a task which is considered by many as the most desirable position ), while the majority learns to fly helicopters, Transport aircraft, or are trained as Browsers.

The pilot course was opened to women in 1995, while the first female pilot has only been formed in 2001 ( several flight navigator formed earlier). Although Israeli Arabs can volunteer to serve in the IDF, it is unclear whether they can seek training in the Air Force. In 2006 an Israeli Arab signed up for the pilot program, but was not accepted

List of commanders of the IAF

 * Yisrael Amir (May 1948 -July 1948)
 * Aharon Remez (July 1948- December 1950)
 * Shlomo Shamir (December 1950- August 1951)
 * Haim Laskov (August 1951- May 1953)
 * Dan Tolkovsky (May 1953- July 1958)
 * Ezer Weizman ( July 1958 -April 1966)
 * Mordechai Hod (April 1966- May 1973)
 * Binyamin Peled (May 1973- October 1977)
 * David Ivri (October 1977- December 1982)
 * Amos Lapidot (December 1982- September 1987)
 * Avihu Ben- Nun (September 1987- January 1992)
 * Herzl boding (January 1992 -July 1996)
 * Eitan Ben Eliyahu (July 1996- April 2000)
 * Dan Halutz (April 2000 -April 2004)
 * Elyezer Shkedy (April 2004- May 2008)
 * Ido Nehoshtan ( May 2008 -)