Towards the end of the post of Air Force Commander Maj. The corps says that recent years have been characterized mainly by stubborn fighting against the Iranian establishment and the Shiite axis in Syria, Lebanon and throughout the Middle East, along with raising the corps’ readiness and capability to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. Next week, the new commander of the Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar, will take office.
The IAF marks this month’s interception of Iranian drones as one of the most significant events in recent years. The UAV interception was carried out by “mighty” F35 aircraft, thus setting a world precedent for the first operational interception of an F-35 aircraft.
The Iranian establishment in the Middle East is of great concern to senior corps officials, in part because of the use of independent Iranian technology. For decades, the IDF has been researching Oriental weapons systems, such as those produced mainly in the Soviet Union, but Iranian developments are characterized by different frequencies and other digital systems.
Another challenge faced by the Air Force in recent years is activity throughout the Middle East and in areas where friendly armies operate, such as the Russian military in Syria. The corps said that even today, there is a coordination mechanism with the Russians, at the most basic level as a safety mechanism designed to prevent mutual risks in air operations. In the past year, according to foreign reports, Air Force planes have attacked dozens of attacks against the Iranian establishment throughout Syria: from the capital Damascus to remote areas in the country and Iraq. In a large proportion of the attacks, the Syrians reported firing anti-aircraft missiles at Air Force planes.
As part of raising preparedness and assessments for the future, the Air Force embarked on streamlining processes, and equipping 4th and 5th generation fighter jets. In 2022-2017, new platforms were purchased, squadrons were closed, new “mighty” squadrons were opened And concentrating the maintenance crews of the aircraft in one place. The Air Force explained that the changes are intended to ensure the Air Force’s air superiority in the area for the coming years and that by 2035 the Air Force will have 3 “mighty” operational F35 squadrons with about 50 fifth generation fighter jets scheduled to arrive by the end of 2022.
Following the signing of Abraham’s agreements with the Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, and the convergence of moderate countries in the region against Iran such as Egypt and Jordan, an opportunity has arisen to form an international joint coalition, the Air Force says. This means that Israel will be able to reach wide regional cooperation in contrast to the past and operate within the framework of a coalition alliance. Creating strategic depth, will allow the Air Force to deal with threats far from the border and receive preliminary intelligence information from partner countries. Air Force sources said that it was not far off today for Israel to sign an alliance of regional defense in a format similar to the NATO alliance that exists in Europe with countries in the region.
“At age 74 – Israel needs a plane for heads of state”
In the background, senior Air Force officials criticized the conduct of the political elite around the operation of the “Wing of Zion” aircraft, which they define as incorrect. A dedicated squadron is currently operating in the Air Force to receive the aircraft at the Air Force base in Nabatieh, and the pilots even go to simulator training in Iceland, but at the political level there is a debate as to whether to operate it for fear of appearances.
The white and flying elephant – which scares the government a lot Listen to “Another Day”
“The State of Israel, at the age of 74 and in light of its position in the world and its security situation, needs a plane for the heads of state,” said a senior Air Force official. “We see how all the countries are run and this is something that is part of the positive side of the symbols of government that a president pays an official visit and he does not get off a plane of a civil-commercial company but a government plane with the emblem of the State of Israel.”
The source added: “It is right to invest in this. The Air Force is prepared to receive the plane from the moment it gave instructions, we trained people and prepared for the moment when the plane will reach the soldier.” The Air Force said that in the future the way of making the decision to entrust the craft of assembling the aircraft by IAI in the future and also the model of aircraft chosen should be examined but now that the aircraft has been made existing the factor claims it should be operated. “The decision-making process needs to be investigated, but there should be a plane,” the senior added.