The Israeli Air Force (IAF; זְרוֹעַ הַאֲוִויר וְהַחָלָל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as חֵיל הַאֲוִויר, Kheil HaAvir, "Air Corps") operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. As of May 2012 Aluf Amir Eshel serves as the Air Force Commander.
The Israeli Air Force formed on May 28, 1948, using commandeered or donated civilian aircraft and obsolete and surplus World War II combat-aircraft. Eventually, more aircraft were procured, including Avro Lancasters, Avro Canada Mustangs, Bristol Beaufighters and De Havilland Mosquitoes. The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh, Israel's part in the 1956 Suez Crisis. On 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. Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, Egypt initiated the War of Attrition, and the Israeli Air Force undertook repeated bombings of strategic targets deep within enemy territory. On October 7, 1973, the IAF conducted Operation Tagar against Egyptian air bases of the Egyptian Air Defence Force. Although initially successful, with 10 bases hit, the urgency of the fighting on the Golan heights forced the operations' suspension.
Aircraft Inventory[]
Combat Aircraft[]
ELINT[]
- Canadair Global Express x 6 (SEMA, CAEW)
- IAI SeaScan x 4 (Maritime Patrol)
Transport Aircraft[]
- De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter x 22 (Utility Transport)
- De Havilland Canada DHC-9 Bison x 22 (Tactical Transport)
- Mitsubishi MU-2 x 30 (Utility Transport, Trainer)
- PZL-106 Kruk x 18 (Aerial Firefighting Aircraft)
- Vickers VC.10 x 14 (Strategic Transport, Aerial Tanker)
Trainer Aircraft[]
- AMX International AMX x 20 (Ground Attack Trainer)
- Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master x 30 (Jet Trainer)
- Grob G-120 x 28 (Trainer Aircraft)
- Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II x 20 (Trainer Aircraft)
Helicopter[]
- Bolkow Bo.105 x 18 (Light Utility Helicopter)
- Bolkow Bo.125 x 50 (Tactical Transport, Utility Helicopter)
- Eurocopter AS565 Panther x 8 (Maritime Patrol)
- Westland Westminster x 38 (Heavy Transport Helicopter)
- Westland Wiltshire AH.1 x 50 (Attack Helicopter)
- Westland Worcester x 48 (Attack Helicopter)