Tel Nof Air Base
Tel Nof Airbase 8, location in Israel: |
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Characteristics | ||
ICAO code | LLEK | |
Coordinates | ||
Height above MSL | 59 m (194 ft ) | |
Basic data | ||
opening | 1939 | |
operator | Israeli Air Force | |
Runways | ||
15R / 33L | 2388 m × 46 m asphalt | |
15L / 33R | 2387 m × 46 m asphalt | |
18/36 | 2750 m × 46 m asphalt | |
09/27 | 1830 m × 46 m asphalt |
The Tel Nof military airfield ( ICAO code LLEK , also Air Force Base 8 and Hebrew בסיס חיל-האוויר תל נוף) is the main airport of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and is located in the central district in the center of Israel about 5 km south of Rechovot . It has 4 runways. The IAF command is based here.
history
Founded by the British in 1939 during their mandate , this was the main base of the Royal Air Force in Palestine , RAF Aqir, which was handed over to Israel in 1948. During the Palestine War , the base was given the name Ekron . Today Tel Nof has two fighter squadrons and two helicopter squadrons, as well as a drone squadron. Several Israel Defense Forces (IDF) special forces are also located here, including Airborne Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) unit 669 and the training center for the Israeli Paratrooper Brigade . The IAF flight academy was also located here until it was relocated to the Chazerim military airfield in April 1966 .
Current
Israeli nuclear weapons are believed to be stored at the base or at the neighboring Sdot Micha air force base . Fighter planes that can carry such weapons, such as the F-15 Eagle today and once the F-4 Phantom II , have been on alert at the base around the clock since the 1970s. This form of deterrence was one of the lessons Israel learned from the 1973 Yom Kippur War , although Israel has not yet admitted that it possesses nuclear weapons.
Since January 2019 there has been a so-called “Red Baron” relay on Tel Nof for training German soldiers on the IAI Heron TP drone. IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) has built its own version of this drone for the German Air Force , whose German crews are now being trained by Israeli soldiers and technicians. This unit is the only incomplete Israeli squadron within the IAF.
units
- 106th Squadron F-15C / D Eagle Baz combat aircraft ("Edge Of The Spear" Squadron)
- 114th Squadron CH-53D Sea Stallion Yas'ur transport helicopter ("Night Leaders" Squadron)
- 118th Squadron CH-53D Sea Stallion Yas'ur transport helicopter ("Night Riders" Squadron)
- 133rd Squadron F-15C / D Eagle Baz combat aircraft ("Knights Of The Twin Tail" Squadron)
- 210th Squadron IAI Heron TP Eitan Drones ("White Eagle" Squadron)
- 601st Squadron Flight Test Center
- Unit 555 Electronic Warfare
- Unit 669 Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)
- Paratrooper training center
- "Red Baron" Squadron for training German soldiers at the IAI Heron TP
A 133rd Squadron F-15C Eagle Baz with markings for four Syrian killings
CH-53D Sea Stallion Yas'ur transport helicopter stationed on Tel Nof
An IAI Heron TP Eitan drone based on Tel Nof
A disused, three -shot F-4E Phantom II Kurnass , once stationed on Tel Nof
The Paratrooper Memorial west of Tel Nof at 40 St.
Gen.maj. Amikam Norkin takes command of the IAF on Aug. 14, 2017 on Tel Nof
A Vickers Wellington Mk. X on RAF Aqir, 1944–1945, now Tel Nof Airbase
Web links
- Tel Nof . globalsecurity.org
- Aeroflight World Airforces (archived version)
- The RAF in Palestine
Individual evidence
- ↑ Elite Force: The Israeli Paratroopers. In: Spiegel Online . April 8, 2001, accessed April 13, 2020 .
- ^ Tel Nof Airbase - Facilities - NTI. In: nti.org. Retrieved April 13, 2020 .
- ^ John Pike: Tel Nof / Tel Nov - Israel Airfields. In: globalsecurity.org. Accessed April 13, 2020 (English).
- ^ Parra Laurent: Air Bases in Israel
- ^ A b Dor Palkovic: The IAF Squadron that trains German Crews. In: iaf.org.il. July 2, 2020, accessed August 20, 2020 .
- ^ IAF website: The Edge Of The Spear Squadron
- ^ IAF website: Knights Of The Twin Tail Squadron
- ↑ https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Features/And-they-struck-them-with-blindness
- ↑ https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/unit-669/
- ↑ http://www.iaf.org.il/4460-49224-en/IAF.aspx