Tel Nof Air Base

Tel Nof ; Airbase 8, location in Israel:
	Tel Nof Airbase
	Tel Nof Airbase
Characteristics
ICAO code	LLEK
Coordinates	31 ° 50 ′ 22 ″ N , 34 ° 49 ′ 19 ″ E Coordinates: 31 ° 50 ′ 22 ″ N , 34 ° 49 ′ 19 ″ E
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