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Soviet military pilots, who entered into an air battle with Israeli fighters, lost 5 aircraft without shooting down a single enemy aircraft.
For forty years now, legends have been circulating about this battle. 100 Soviet aces. 50 deadly MiG-21 interceptors of the best modification of the MF for that period. The Russian "legion of death", urgently deployed to the Middle East, was supposed to radically change the balance of power in the air.
Youth and anger. The desire to fight to the last drop of blood - as bequeathed by the fathers who took Berlin. Motherland will provide you with the most the best technique and learn all the necessary skills of a fighter pilot. Squad of winners. Thunderstorm of the air ocean.
Prepare for this fight. For the decisive battle, the best of the best were selected - the 135th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the USSR Air Force, which underwent special training at training grounds in the southern regions of the USSR. While the Soviet "falcons" cut turns over the Crimea and the Caspian Sea, trying to tail each other, the Israelis swallowed the blood of the "war of attrition" and studied, studied, studied, practicing their own air combat techniques.
Only old men go into battle - the best Soviet pilots against Amos Amir, Asher Snir, Abraham Shalmon and Avi Gilad. Only this four aces had more than 20 air victories in total. The command of the Israeli Air Force rightly believed that there was no second such link in the world, equal in quality of training and abilities to the detachment of "air killers" under the command of Amos Amir.
Two teams of professionals. Two scorpions locked in one vessel. Only one must remain alive. Bolivar can't take two.
Ahead is a painful unknown. With a shield or on a shield. Warriors-internationalists, our country has given you a great honor - the right to represent the interests of Soviet Union in the region of the Middle East conflict. I have no right to order. Volunteers have gathered here. Please do everything right there and come back alive.
Leaving the room, he added in a stern voice: “Keep in mind, comrades: if you are shot down behind the Suez Canal line, we don’t know you, get out yourself ...” (from the memoirs of the pilots about the meeting with the USSR Minister of Defense A. Grechko)
Secret mission in one of the most dangerous hotspots on the planet. On the wings and keel - identification marks of the Egyptian Air Force. In the forward part of the fuselage there is a tactical number, drawn in fancy Arabic script. The personnel of the unit, all pilots and technicians - “ana khabir rusi” (translated “I am a Russian specialist”). MiGs were based at the Kom-Aushim, Beni-Suef, Janaklis airbases, and the advanced airfield in Katamiye was periodically used.
The all-seeing intelligence Mossad has already reported the arrival of the Russians. These are not ordinary instructors, these people came here to fight. There was a brief confusion on the other side of the Suez Canal: A direct threat to the existence of the State of Israel? But what about neutrality? How justified is shooting at aircraft with Russian crews? Will this be the spark of the Great War?
"No, we must fight," Prime Minister Golda Meir took the initiative - "when necessary, immediately join the fight."
They carefully prepared for the general duel - from the first half of April 1970, weekly meetings between Russians and Israelis began. Alas, every time the opponents dispersed in different sides without risking a fight. Israeli pilots carefully observed the behavior of their potential opponents, tracked all their maneuvers and formation patterns during sorties, and studied the manner of controlling Soviet fighters.
I saw the Mirage - do not turn into a turn!
Our pilots are looking at the enemy with no less interest. Here he is! Literally a couple of tens of meters away, the fat-bellied carcass of the Phantom glides to the side. A double American-made fighter is simply a giant - 20 tons of continuous speed and fire - against 8 tons of the maximum takeoff weight of the MiG! McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom pendants are littered with a multitude of cruise missiles air-to-air class, two engines, a perfect set of on-board electronics. An extremely dangerous enemy.
F-4E Phantom II Israeli Air Force
And here - flashed the arrow-shaped silhouette of the Mirage. The graceful French fighter represents almost great danger than the American "monster" - the load on the wing of the Mirage is less than that of the MiG - it is risky for our fighters to engage in close combat with such a nimble enemy. The final touch to the portrait of Dassault Mirage III - two built-in aircraft guns DEFA caliber 30 mm.
Instead of a deadly and senseless "carousel" with French cars, Soviet pilots were advised to "keep their distance" using their trump card - the large thrust-to-weight ratio of the MiG-21. The main thing here is the position at the beginning of the battle and a portion of sharp, energetic maneuvers that allow you to save energy, constantly remaining in a more advantageous position.
How did the legendary MiG-21 look like against the backdrop of an armada of modern foreign technology? A small, light, swift interceptor - the MiG did not have super-powerful radars, long-range AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and impressive sighting and navigation equipment - the combat capabilities of the aircraft were determined solely by the talent of the pilot. In general, the fighter was easy to operate, fast and reliable, and its excellent flight performance allowed an experienced pilot to "sweep" any air enemy from the skies.
... By June 1970, Soviet pilots made about 100 sorties to intercept intruders in the sky of Egypt, alas, every time Israeli aviation refused to join the battle - at the slightest danger of a military clash, the enemy immediately went deep into their territory. The game of hide-and-seek continued until June 25, 1970 - on that day a pair of Soviet MiGs (pilots Krapivin and Salnik) secretly crossed the path of the Skyhawk attack aircraft - one of the R-3 homing missiles fired by the MiGs hit the aircraft engine with the "Star of David" on the fuselage . However, the tenacious Skyhawk managed to stabilize the flight and, smoking with a twisted nozzle, disappeared into the sky beyond the Suez Canal.
The intoxicating taste of victory demanded an immediate continuation - an ambush on the Israeli Mirages was planned for June 27: Egyptian MiG-17s launched a provocative strike on Israeli positions on the eastern side of the canal - then, according to the plan, a Mirage link was supposed to rise to intercept the impudent MiGs . Egyptian planes, used as bait, will lure them into their territory, where three groups of MiGs with Soviet crews will enter the battle. Further, the enemy will simply be smeared in the air.
The plan didn't work. Apparently sensing something was wrong, the Israelis refused to rise to intercept. Having ironed out the Israeli stronghold, the Egyptian planes calmly returned to their airfields. The accident happened in the evening of the same day. The Egyptians repeated the blow - this time four Mirages fell out of the red-hot haze of the Sinai air. They managed to lure them to Egyptian territory, however ... there are no Russian fighters anywhere! The disgusting interaction between the Russian and Egyptian command did not allow the interceptors to be raised in time. The Israelis shot, as in exercises, two MiG-17s and with impunity withdrew beyond the canal line. The beating of the Egyptian MiGs was observed by four "Russian" MiG-21s, however, the ground command post forbade them to engage in battle until the arrival of two other units.
On July 30, a general battle was given. That battle, which has been awaited for so long and for which they have been preparing so intensely. In a number of Russian sources, this event takes place under the designation "Battle over El Sokhna." Official Israeli name: Operation Rimon-20.
For 40 years, this story has acquired such an incredible amount of myths and legends that it is almost impossible to establish the exact details, nature and chronicle of the fierce air battle between the Soviet Air Force and Hel Haavir (Israel Defense Forces Air Force) that took place on July 30, 1970. The only thing that can be said with some degree of certainty is: the approximate composition of the forces, the names of some participants and, most importantly, its tragic results - that day, several MiGs with Soviet crews were indeed shot down. As a result of air combat, the following died:
Zhuravlev Vladimir Alexandrovich - captain, senior pilot. He was awarded (posthumously) the Order of the Red Banner and the Egyptian Order of the Star of Military Valor.
Yurchenko Nikolai Petrovich - captain, flight commander. He was awarded (posthumously) the Order of the Red Banner and the Egyptian Order of the Star of Military Valor.
Yakovlev Evgeny Gerasimovich - captain, flight commander. He was awarded (posthumously) the Order of the Red Banner and the Egyptian Order of the Star of Military Valor.
One thing is absolutely clear - it was an organized ambush by the Israeli Air Force (that's what it is called - Operation Rimon-20). But how did it happen that the Soviet pilots were trapped? And why couldn't they get out of it?
There are many answers. According to Israel's jingoistic version, twenty Soviet MiG-21s pounced on a "defenseless" pair of reconnaissance Mirages (bait). Alas, to their surprise, the Russians found four close-flying fighters in front of them, so that only 2 marks were displayed on the screens of Egyptian ground-based radars. Realizing that this was some kind of set-up, the Russians twitched and SUDDENLY found themselves surrounded by 12 more Israeli Air Force aircraft.
20 MiGs against 16 Phantoms and Mirages. As a result, experienced Israeli fighters shot five Soviet aces like partridges, and, without losing a single aircraft, returned to their airfields. That night, a feast was buzzing at the air bases of Hal Haavir - happy pilots drank away their bonuses for the Russians they killed ... Happy ending!
The version is vulgar and, of course, very far from the truth. For example, one of the noteworthy versions from the Ukrainian researcher V. Babich is as follows:
There was no 20 vs 16 fight in sight. On that day, there were several battles spaced apart in time and space - and each time the MiGs fought with the enemy many times superior in strength - when one Soviet four entered the battle, the other four MiGs were already leaving the battle with a critical balance of fuel. The Israelis calculated everything and were able to achieve a concentration of forces in the right place and at the right time.
Captain Yurchenko was the first to be shot down - his MiG exploded in the air from a Sidewinder missile. A few minutes later, captains Yakovlev and Syrkin had to eject - alas, upon landing, captain Yakovlev fell into a crevice and crashed to death (there is a version that the canopy of his parachute was burned by a jet stream of a fighter flying nearby).
It is still not known exactly how Captain Zhuravlev died - according to eyewitnesses, he fought alone against four enemy aircraft until he was shot down by a stray Mirage cannon burst. There is an opinion that two Israeli pilots Ifta Spektor and Avraham Salmon almost became its victims, having barely reached the territory of Israel in damaged cars.
Explosion of the Mirage
The Mirage of the Israeli ace Asher Snir also received heavy damage - the R-13 rocket fired at close range damaged the plane, but the warhead of the small R-13 was too small to stop the Mirage's flight - Asher Snir left the battle and urgently sat down at the air base Refadim (his combat colleague Amos Amir writes about this in his book Fire in the Sky).
Yurchenko - shot down, killed; Yakovlev - shot down, killed; Syrkin - shot down, survived; Zhuravlev - shot down, killed.
But what about the fifth downed Russian plane? And he disappeared! Nothing is known about the downed plane and its pilot.
According to rumors, the Israelis managed to shoot down Captain Kamenev's plane, but there is no evidence of this. In addition, Captain Kamenev himself subsequently continued to serve in the USSR Air Force. Rumors, rumors... sometimes they say that one of the MiGs made an emergency landing at one of the Egyptian airfields. Nobody knows what really happened.
At the same time, there are testimonies of witnesses, according to which, after the battle, Israeli search and rescue helicopters were circling over the battlefield - did the "indestructible" Hal Haavir suffer any losses? Not excluded. Many Mirages from 101, 117 and 119 squadrons, as well as Phantom multirole fighters from 69 squadron of the Israeli Air Force took part in the operation. There is a high probability that the fact of the loss of one (or several) vehicles was carefully hidden, and the results of the battle were falsified.
Without resorting to dubious conspiracy theories, the following reliable facts can be established:
As a result of the battle on 07/30/1970, 4 MiG-21s were shot down, while three Soviet pilots died.
Reliable losses of the Israeli Air Force - the lined Mirage by Asher Snir, which landed at the Refadim airbase.
After battle
Sad and instructive story. Not at all wanting to “rig the facts” (we shot down not us, but we them!) or “find the guilty” (there were more of them! It’s not fair), I note that the Israeli pilots really had a number of serious advantages.
1. The Israeli Air Force had the opportunity to thoroughly study the MiG-21 fighter.
On August 15, 1966, Iraqi pilot Munir Redfa hijacked a MiG-21 to Israel (Operation Penicillin). The aircraft was carefully studied, disassembled and even flown - the Israelis got a complete picture of the design, combat capabilities and secrets of the Soviet fighter. Soviet pilots, alas, they did not have such an opportunity - acquaintance with the enemy "Mirages" and "Phantoms" took place directly in an air battle.
2. The Israelis used the latest tactics - excellent organization of the battle, the use of electronic warfare- flurries of electronic interference “hammered” all Soviet communication lines, completely upsetting the control of the battle.
3. Combat experience. The Israeli Air Force really had an impressive practice of conducting air battles- daily, for many years, Hel Haavir fighters flew to intercept air targets - regular air battles over the entire range of altitudes, dashing chases and missile exchanges, sorties to escort strike groups ... Such things leave their mark on the organization of aviation combat work.
One of the clearest examples is scrupulous coverage of the situation in the air: not only the current courses of the aircraft, but also their radio communications were plotted on the combat tablet - this made it possible to understand the situation in a matter of seconds and redirect the aircraft to where they were most needed.
4. Most important. Pilot training and combat control system.
In an interview, the commander of the Israeli Air Force, Lieutenant General Mordechai Hoth, said: "We tell the squadron commander what needs to be done, and he himself decides how to do it." Analyzing the results of sorties, the Israeli Air Force moved the center of gravity of the preparation for battle to the link level. The squadron commander independently planned the scenario for the upcoming operation, using "home-made preparations" and accumulated data on the behavior of enemy aircraft in the air.
Unlike Israeli pilots, Soviet fighters were shackled by a monstrous chain of prohibitions, recommendations and regulations. It is no coincidence that immediately after the tragic events of 07/30/1970, all participants in the battle were gathered by the commander of the Soviet aviation group in Egypt, General Grigory Ustinovich Dolnikov:
The meaning of what was said was that all prohibitions and restrictions on aerobatics and combat maneuvering are being lifted. We had to start air training from scratch and be guided in it by our common sense, and not someone else's conscience. The general urged us to believe in our own instincts and intuitions, and he himself pledged to believe in our common luck.
"Egyptian Fighters in the 'War of Attrition'", History of Aviation, No. 2/2001
http://www.skywar.ru
http://www.hubara-rus.ru
http://airwar.ru
"Fire in the Sky" by Amos Amir (brigadier-general). UK: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2005
Preparing for the flight of the F-16 fighter aircraft. 1991 Photo by Ts. Israel. State Press Bureau. Israel.
Defense Minister M. Ahrens with a team of technicians serving F-16 fighter aircraft. 1991 Photo by Ts. Israel. State Press Bureau. Israel.
Demonstration flight of Israeli Air Force aircraft at a military parade dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel. 1998. Photo by M. Milner. State Press Bureau. Israel.
Israeli UAV Aerostar.
General provisions
One of the most important aspects of the Israeli strategic doctrine, designed to solve the problem of a small country surrounded by a numerically superior enemy, is the concentrated and coordinated use of the Air Force against enemy ground forces and rear areas (which, among other things, reduces human losses).
Successful raids from Israel into Uganda (Operation Entebbe to free the passengers of the Air France aircraft taken hostage on July 4, 1976) and Iraq (bombing of a nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981) once again showed the importance of Israel as an operational base , allowing the Air Force stationed here to effectively control vast areas of the Middle East and East Africa.
Personnel and weapons of the Israeli Air Force
Information of a defensive nature in Israel is not subject to publication; thus, the data given below are based mainly on the estimates of authoritative foreign sources, as well as Israeli researchers.
There are four types of aviation: tactical, air defense, reconnaissance and transport.
About 36,000 people served in the Air Force in 2002. During the mobilization, the personnel of the Israeli Air Force reaches approximately 91 thousand people. The Air Force has a relatively large number of regular servicemen.
The Israeli Air Force has, according to various sources, up to 800 combat aircraft, including 628 - in service and 172 (57 - Skyhawk models and 115 - Kfir models) - in operational storage (that is, they are maintained in combat-ready condition; intended for sale abroad or use in an emergency) - more than in the army of any of the countries bordering Israel (Egypt - 505, Syria - 451, Jordan - 97, Lebanon has no combat aircraft). The number of Israeli Air Force combat vehicles, including missile-equipped helicopters, is detailed in the table.
Table 1. The number of combat aircraft of the Israeli Air Force various models, 2002
| original name | Israeli name | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| F-15 models A-D "Eagle" | "Baz" ("Falcon") | 72 |
| F-15 Model I "Strike Eagle" | "Ra'am" ("Thunder") | 25 |
| F-16 Models A-B "Fighting Falcon" | "Nets" ("Hawk") | 110 |
| F-16 models C–D "Fighting Falcon" | "Barack" ("Lightning") | 138 |
| F-16 Model I "Fighting Falcon" | "Sa'ar" ("Storm") | 120 aircraft on order, due by 2008. |
| F-4E "Phantom II" and F-4E-2000 ("Phantom-2000") | "Kournas" ("Hammer") | 140 |
| A-4H/N, TA-4H and TA-4J Skyhawk | "Ait" ("Kite") | 175, of which 118 are in service and 57 are in operational storage |
| Kfir C-2/TC-2/C-7/TC-7/CR | "Kfir" ("Lion cub") | 140, of which 25 are in service and 115 are in operational storage |
At the beginning of the 21st century, Israel bought 50 F-35 fighters from the United States, of which 2 squadrons were made up.
In addition to combat aircraft, the Israeli Air Force has 57 (according to other sources - 79) Boeing 707, C-130H Hercules, Arava and Dorenye Do-28B-1 transport aircraft; 6 tanker transport aircraft; 138 training aircraft; 22 communications aircraft; as well as electronic reconnaissance and patrol aircraft. The country's air force also has 135 AH-64A Apache, AH-1G/E/F/S Cobra and 500MD Defender combat helicopters, as well as transport helicopters of various modifications.
The Israeli Armed Forces have aviation means delivery nuclear weapons(including American-made F-16, F-4E Phantom and A-4N Sky Hawk aircraft).
Air Defense Forces
In Israel, all specialized means air defense, except for ships, are concentrated as part of the air defense forces (Hale nun-mem; “nun-mem” is the abbreviation “ neged matosim”- literally“ against aircraft ”), which are part of the Air Force.
Air defense is a military branch of the military, a high medical profile is required from recruits. The training of combat personnel takes place at the Air Defense School (BISNAM-833, formerly located in Herzliya, was later transferred to Mashavey Sad), technical - at the Air Force Technical School in Haifa.
Maintenance of air defense systems is carried out by the Air Force Systems and Weapons Service Center (Matnam, Merkaz tahzukat neshek u-maarahot), as well as civilian firms. Missile testing and most air defense firing exercises are conducted at the Missile Testing Unit (YANAT, Yehidat Nisway Ha-Tilim) at Palmachim. Other shootings are carried out at the Shedma training ground (in the south of Israel, in the Mitzpe Ramon region).
Air defense missions include:
- Ensuring the air defense of the country. This task is performed by anti-aircraft missile systems"Patriot" and advanced HAWK systems in cooperation with the command and control system and fighter aircraft.
- Ensuring the country's missile defense. A ballistic missile warning against Israel comes from a network of American early warning satellites. The interception is carried out by specialized Hetz-2 anti-missiles, and in case of failure, by Patriot missiles.
- Defense of individual military and civilian facilities (for example, air force bases, nuclear center in Dimona).
- air defense ground forces. This task is performed by mobile air defense systems, their divisions are armed with Stinger and Chaparel anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as Makhbet missile and artillery systems.
- Security and ground defense of air force bases.
The first air defense systems (40 mm anti-aircraft guns L-70) were supplied to Israel by the German government in 1962; in the same year, the first HAWK anti-aircraft missile systems arrived in Israel from the United States. It was Germany and the United States that supported the development of Israel's air defense throughout all subsequent years. As of 2002, Israel had 22 batteries of heavy anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as approximately 70 portable launchers of light anti-aircraft missile systems.
History of the Israeli Air Force
Start
George Beurling, one of the first Israeli pilots.
Sydney Shulemson, organizer of the recruitment of foreign volunteers in the Israeli Air Force.
On May 14-15, 1948, simultaneously with the proclamation of the State of Israel and the promulgation of its Declaration of Independence, Tel Aviv was bombed by Egyptian planes.
In March 1948 air Force Jewish defense consisted of 30 light aircraft, which were used for reconnaissance, transportation of goods and supply of isolated areas. The first Messerschmidt-type fighters were purchased in 1948 from Czechoslovakia. The Israeli command brought 4 of them into battle on May 29, 1948, while protecting the southern borders from the advancing Egyptian army.
The Israeli Air Force base was deployed in the Czech city of Zhytec. There they received aircraft purchased in Czechoslovakia and equipped them with additional tanks for distillation to Israel.
American businessman Al Schwimmer delivered 4 B-17 bombers to Israel. They were used to retaliate against the Egyptians after the bombing of Jerusalem on the night of July 12, 1948. He also recruited many American pilots to serve in the TsAHAL. Subsequently, he founded the Israel Aircraft Industry concern.
On January 7, 1949, the day the ceasefire agreement came into force, Israeli aircraft shot down five British fighters. Later it turned out that they were mistaken for Egyptian warplanes, which bombarded Israeli positions on a daily basis.
The first jet aircraft of the Israeli Air Force - "Meteor" - were purchased from the UK.
Six Day War and War of Attrition
In 1961–63 Tzvi Tzur was the Chief of the General Staff of the TsAAL. He focused on re-equipping the Israel Defense Forces' weapons arsenal, especially the air force and navy, so that they would have a qualitative advantage over the troops of potential adversaries.
In 1965–66 Israel repeatedly shelled and bombed from the air the route of the canal under construction to divert the sources of the Jordan - the Dan, Hermon (Banias), Snir (Hasbani) rivers - to the reservoir on the Yarmouk River in Jordan. This forced the Syrians to stop construction.
On April 7, 1967, Israeli aircraft shot down six enemy military aircraft in Syrian airspace. On August 15, 1966, Israeli police boats were attacked on the Kinneret, in response to this, two Syrian aircraft were shot down by Israeli fighters over the lake.
Due to the French embargo, the United States became the sole supplier of weapons to Israel. In December 1968, US President L. Johnson agreed to supply Israel with 50 Phantom-type aircraft.
Doomsday War
The Syrians had over 300 Soviet-made aircraft. The advantage of the Syrians in the air was based, however, on the air defense system - anti-aircraft guns and missiles such as "Sam-2", "Sam-3" and "Sam-6". For 20 Syrian missile bases 120 rocket launchers operated. This system, covering the attacking divisions, inflicted significant damage on Israeli aircraft, which did not expect to meet such a massive defense.
The Israeli Air Force had 500 aircraft, including 100 Phantoms and 160 Skyhawks. However, Israeli aviation was forced to operate on two fronts - Egyptian and Syrian. On the southern front, she had to repel attacks by Egyptian aircraft and break through the Egyptian air defense system, much stronger than the Syrian one.
The actions of the Israeli air force became more and more effective as the Syrians, advancing, came out from under their air cover.
In the early days of the war, Israeli Air Force planes bombed bridges and rafts built by the Egyptians. But they also suffered significant losses from anti-aircraft missiles. Thus, Israeli aviation was not able to stop the crossing of the canal. She could only slightly slow down the crossing, but this was achieved at the cost of heavy losses in aircraft.
After the Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal, Israeli aircraft continued to attack the enemy, but it was clear that this time the Egyptian air defense would not allow it to play a decisive role, as it had in 1967.
On October 14, the Egyptian army for the first time emerged from under the cover of its defense system, based on anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems. At the forefront, Israeli aircraft began to operate with their usual high efficiency, which was no longer threatened by Sam-type missiles.
Lebanese War
In July 1981, terrorists moved fire from the border strip, which was controlled by the Christian militia, to settlements in northern Israel. Israel responded with massive bombing of terrorist bases in South Lebanon and headquarters in Beirut.
The PLO continued to heavily arm and carry out terrorist acts in Israel and abroad; hostilities against the forces of Hadad did not stop. Israel responded by bombing terrorist bases twice.
The day after the assassination attempt on the Israeli ambassador in London, Sh. Argov (June 3, 1982), Israeli planes bombed terrorist bases in Lebanon.
On June 9, Syria significantly increased the number of its anti-aircraft missile installations in Lebanon. In response to this move, on the same day, the Israeli Air Force destroyed 19 Syrian missile batteries and in the ensuing air battle they shot down 23 Syrian aircraft (MiG-21 and MiG-23), without losing a single one. The next day, another 25 Syrian aircraft were shot down in an air battle and two missile batteries were destroyed.
During the course of the war, two Israeli warplanes and two helicopters were shot down by ground fire. terror.
in April 2004, he was appointed Deputy Chief, and on June 1, 2005, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Dan Halutz was the first member of the Air Force to serve as Chief of the General Staff in the history of the State of Israel. His professional outlook was largely shaped by his own experience in the army - he argued that it was the air force that played a decisive role in modern wars, while the function ground forces rather than an ancillary one.
Based on this doctrine, Halutz formulated his system of priorities both in the distribution of budgetary appropriations, and directly in the development of plans for the conduct of hostilities and their implementation. In accordance with this doctrine, Halutz led the Israeli army during the Second Lebanon War in July-August 2006, and his opinion was decisive, since the head of government Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, being purely civilian people, did not have the appropriate knowledge and experience.
Halutz decided to abandon a large-scale ground operation and did not announce a massive call for reservists. In his opinion, Israel could win the war with air forces, which was supposed to force the Lebanese government to take responsibility for ensuring calm on the Israeli-Lebanese border with massive air strikes. General Benny Gantz opposed this.
This concept turned out to be erroneous: despite the actions of the Israeli Air Force, Hezbollah forces continued shelling Israeli territory with the connivance of the Lebanese government, while Israel came under fire from sharp international criticism for the disproportionate use of force and the destruction of Lebanese civilian infrastructure. The decision on the offensive of the ground forces was taken only almost a month after the start of the war, when intensive negotiations were already underway on the conditions for its termination.
Aviation industry
In the 1980s, a project was being developed in Israel to produce a new generation of Lavi fighters. It was closed at the end of 1987 due to insufficient funding.
Today, Israeli industrial products include aircraft (light - for operational communications and maritime patrols, transport, drones, fighters and fighter-bombers). Aircraft converted by Israeli enterprises in recent years are in service with Croatia, Romania, Turkey, Zambia, Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka and other countries. Israel controls 90% of the global drone market, with the United States being the main buyer; many other countries also acquire this technique.
Israeli Air Force Museum (Hatserim military base)
Israeli Air Force Museum (
FOREIGN MILITARY REVIEW No. 9/2007, pp. 49-53
Captain 1st rank A. KARPOV
The Israeli Air Force is an independent branch of the armed forces. They are designed to conduct air operations, gain air supremacy, direct support of the ground forces and the Navy, aerial reconnaissance, airborne assault and cargo transportation by air. The Air Force is considered by the Israeli command as the main strike force in combat operations of any scale and the main means for solving air defense tasks.
As of January 1, 2007, the Israeli Air Force has about 35 thousand people. After carrying out mobilization measures, their number can be increased to 59 thousand people.
The Air Force is armed with: 89 F-15s (A, B, C, D and I), 206 F-16s (A, B, C and D), 12 F-16I (it is planned to deliver 102 aircraft), 5RC-12D , 39 A-4N Skyhawks, 10 Boeing 707s, two Boeing 707 Falcons, three G 550s, two EU-130s, three IAI-1124 Siskans, five KS-130Ns, 11 C-47s, six IAI-202, Arava, eight Do-28s, two Icelanders, four Beach 200 Super King Air, 20 Cessna U-206, 12 Beach 80 Queen Air, 43SM-170,17 Coffin-120, 26 TA-4Ni J; helicopters 55 AN-IE and F "Cobra", 33 Hughes 500MD, 40 AN-64A, AH-64D (18 machines ordered), seven AS-565SA, 41 CH-53D, 24 S-70A, 14 UH-60, 34 Bell 212, 43 Bell 206; UAVs Scout, Sicher, Pioneer, Firebee, Samson, Deline, Hunter, Hermes-450, Sky AI and Harpy, as well as Arrow missiles , "Hawk", "Patriot" and "Chaparel".
The Air Force has the following types of aviation: fighter-bomber, fighter air defense, reconnaissance and transport. Aircraft and helicopters of the Israeli Air Force are based mainly on AVB Bikat Ovda, Pod, Mitzpe Ramon, Palmachim, Ramat David, Tel Aviv, Tel Nof, Tell el Milch, Hatzor and Hatzerim .
The Air Force has ten air bases, 16 squadrons of combat and ten auxiliary aviation, ten helicopter squadrons, nine divisions of anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) "Hawk" and "Improved Hawk", three mixed anti-aircraft artillery divisions "Chaparel-Vulcan" and nine anti-aircraft artillery, as well as two squadrons of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Israeli Air Force Base System
The leadership of the Air Force is carried out by the commander, who is directly subordinate to the chief of the general staff. The commander is subordinate to the headquarters of the Air Force, air bases, separate divisions ZUR "Hawk" and "Improved Hawk", separate anti-aircraft artillery and mixed divisions "Chaparel-Volcano", radio engineering troops, military educational institutions and rear of the Air Force.
The highest organizational unit of the Air Force - air base. As a rule, it consists of a headquarters, from two to six aviation squadrons, an Advanced Hawk missile defense battalion or an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, radio engineering troops and logistics units.
The main tactical unit of the Air Force is the air wing. It includes two to four squadrons, each of which consists of three to four units. The squadron is armed with 12 to 25 combat and combat training aircraft of the same type.
Management forces and means of air defense carried out by the Deputy Commander of the Air Force - Commander of Air Defense. In his direct subordination are anti-aircraft missile troops, fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft artillery and radio engineering troops.
Anti-aircraft missile troops include separate divisions of the Hawk and Improved Hawk missiles, as well as separate mixed anti-aircraft artillery divisions of the Chaparel-Vulcan.
The basis of the air defense forces is fighter aviation. It has been reduced to squadrons of F-15 and Kfir aircraft.
In May 1994, the Israeli Ministry of Defense entered into an agreement with the American company Boeing for the production and supply of 25 F-151 tactical fighters (representing the export version of the American F-15E Strike Eagle), intended mainly for attacking ground targets. The difference between the new vehicle and the base model is its equipping with an Israeli-made SPS-2100 electronic warfare equipment kit, which includes an active jamming station, an exposure warning receiver, and missile attack warning systems.
The first F-15I fighters arrived in Israel in January 1998. In November of the same year, ten such aircraft were deployed at the Tel Nof airbase, located in the central part of the country. Since 1998, F-151s have been participating in various events held both on national territory, as well as beyond. So, in the first half of October 1998, three Israeli aircraft of this type took part in the annual American exercise "Red Flag" (AVB Nellis, Nevada). 35 Israeli soldiers were involved in their service.
After deliveries were completed, all F-15Is entered service with the 69th Fighter Squadron of the Israeli Air Force. According to the national military media, this unit was capable of fighting in full by the middle of 1999. The leadership of the Ministry of Defense noted that the development of new machines did not require significant material costs due to the availability of the necessary infrastructure and experience in operating F-15 aircraft of other modifications. In addition, leading Israeli enterprises participated in the manufacture of units and assemblies for aircraft, the order for the construction of which was issued to the Boeing company, which greatly simplified the provision of new machines with spare parts.
According to foreign experts, the introduction of F-15I tactical fighters into service with the Israeli Air Force provides the country's armed forces with the ability to deliver effective strikes against ground targets located at remote borders. At the same time, these aircraft have increased the capabilities of the Israeli air defense system, since they are equipped with modern APG-70 multifunctional airborne radars and are carriers of various types of air-to-air missiles. The need for such machines is explained by the need to strengthen the Israeli Air Force, since in recent years there has been a slight decrease in their superiority in technical equipment compared to the air forces of neighboring states, whose leaders are taking vigorous measures to rearm them with modern aircraft. At the same time, it is emphasized that the F-15I have the highest combat capabilities compared to tactical fighters of the air forces of other countries located in this region. According to Western experts, the tactical characteristics of the Air Force F-15S aircraft Saudi Arabia, which are also a modification of the American F-15E tactical fighters, are somewhat lower than those of Israeli aircraft. They explain this by the fact that the fighters of the Arab state have simplified APG-70 airborne radars (a less powerful processor, an onboard computer with less memory, etc.).
In addition, the tasks of intercepting air targets are being worked out by the flight crew of fighter-bomber squadrons. If necessary, more than 25 percent. F-16 and F-4 aircraft can be used to solve air defense tasks.
Radio engineering troops include units and subunits of radio and electronic intelligence, radar support, as well as visual observation of the air situation.
Air defense radar posts have been deployed in the areas of Tsefat, El-Bira and Mitzpe: Ramon. If necessary, in the interests of air defense, aviation control posts belonging to the Air Force can be used to strengthen airspace control.
The Israeli air defense system is an object-zonal one. Priority is given to the protection of important state, military and industrial facilities located mainly in the central and northern parts of the country.
Air defense forces and means are organized into three echelons organizationally. The basis of the first echelon is the division of anti-missile systems (PRK) "Arrow" (two batteries). Each battery has six transport launchers six anti-missiles "Arrow-2". Combat duty of the Arrow PMC is organized at the Palmachim airbase (15 km south of Tel Aviv) and in the Ein Shemer area (70 km northeast of the capital). The basis of the second echelon of air defense is the batteries of anti-aircraft guided missiles "Patriot". URO ships from the 6th operational fleet of the US Navy, which are on combat patrols off the Mediterranean coast of Israel, are the third echelon.
Due to the peculiarities of the geostrategic position of the country and the need to be ready to immediately repel external aggression in the Israeli Air Force there is only one degree of combat readiness - constant. AT in the event of a sudden attack by the enemy, it is required to gain time and give the opportunity to mobilize the rest of the military branches. The time interval between the announcement of the alarm and the take-off of aircraft does not exceed 15 minutes. When an emergency alert is declared, the pilots are on duty directly in the aircraft.
In this type of armed forces created personnel training system, the main elements of which are training in the military educational institutions x Air Force, the study of applied disciplines in military and civilian educational institutions, as well as the improvement of combat skills in units and subunits.
As noted in foreign media, such military educational institutions include: the Air Force Academy (aircraft crews are trained, located at the Hatzerim airbase), a technical school (service personnel, Air Force Haifa), an air defense school (personnel of ZRV and RTV units, n. p. Herzliya) and an aviation vocational school (flight managers, signalmen, control systems personnel and other specialists, Bikat-Uvda).
Courses for the study of applied aviation disciplines are organized on the basis of the Air Force Command and Staff College, as well as the University of Jerusalem and other civilian higher educational institutions.
tactical fighterF-15 IThunder
Training in units and subunits is a longer process that provides for the individual improvement of the basic training of a serviceman on duty and off duty. Commanders of all levels are personally responsible for the passage of the relevant programs by their subordinates. All this makes it possible to achieve a high level of professionalism of the personnel necessary for effective application and competent operation of modern aviation equipment.
The leadership of the military department of the country pays the closest attention to the training of flight personnel. The experience of military departments of the leading Western countries and primarily the United States. The training of flight and navigation personnel is carried out at the Air Force Academy, which was opened in 1950. In the process of training cadets, much attention is paid not only to acquiring flying skills, but also to educating them as future officers. Before enrolling in the academy, candidates undergo a rigorous selection process. Local recruiting offices are looking for young people with the most suitable qualities to master the profession of a military pilot, who are invited to undergo the first phase of training (within a week). In the course of it, both the personal qualities of applicants and their communication skills are checked. Those who successfully complete this phase begin flight practice on Cessna aircraft, after which they improve the acquired skills on Fugue Magister type aircraft. The course of study is divided into four semesters (total duration is two years). Upon completion, cadets are certified to continue their studies as aircraft or helicopter pilots, navigators or flight engineers. Their further specialization is carried out in two directions: combat and transport aviation. According to foreign media, only 10 percent of students graduate from the Air Force Academy. cadets who initially enrolled in it.
Israeli Air Force Technical School is the main educational institution that provides the needs for service personnel of this type of armed forces from the first days of its creation. Over the past years, the tasks of the school have expanded significantly. Currently, it provides training for all ground specialists required by the national air force. In addition, various retraining courses for the engineering and technical staff of combat units have been organized on its basis. The technical school includes two higher educational institutions - in n. Beer Sheva and at the Haifa airbase.
combat training program is drawn up taking into account the tasks facing the Air Force, the features of the physical and geographical position of the country and the small extent of the territory. Much attention is paid to mastering the skills of performing combat techniques on simulators. Computer technology and special equipment are widely used to simulate complex air conditions.
In 2006, the Israeli Air Force combat training activities were practiced in the course of integrated, tactical flight and command and staff exercises, as well as everyday combat training. Special attention devoted to combat use aviation outside Israel, interaction with the ground forces and the Navy. The main event that had a significant impact on the process of combat training of the country's Air Force pilots in 2006 was their participation in hostilities against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. In addition, the Israeli Air Force practiced combat missions with the use of weapons during sorties to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Jordan.
Foreign media reports that during a military operation against the Lebanese Shiite organization Hezbollah (July-August 2006) tactical aviation The Israeli Air Force solved its inherent tasks, such as: air strikes on infrastructure facilities and positions of rocket launchers, close air support for ground forces, and the collection of intelligence data on the activities of Hezbollah armed formations.
During the period of the active phase, more than 7,000 sorties were made (up to 200-220 per day). The main burden fell on the crews of tactical F-16 fighters. The places where militants are supposed to stay were subjected to missile and bomb attacks - almost all Lebanese infrastructure facilities: residential areas settlements, highways, bridges, airports, seaports, dams, power plants. As a result, significant damage was caused to the country's economy, in particular, more than 500 km of roads, more than 60 bridges, about 800 industrial enterprises were put out of action, and at least 15 thousand residential buildings were destroyed.
According to Western analysts, in general, the Israeli Air Force is one of the most combat-ready types of the country's armed forces. They are capable of performing combat missions to ensure national interests and security of the state in full. The systematic implementation by the country's leadership of programs to modernize the aircraft fleet of military aviation and equip it with new weapons systems will maintain the trend towards consolidating the superiority of the Israeli Air Force over the air force Arab States Middle East.
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COMBAT AVIATION OF ISRAEL
In terms of the number of aircraft and helicopters, it is not inferior to the leading countries of Europe, and pilots for it are being trained from school bench
Mark Steinberg
Heil Avir - this is the Hebrew name for the air force of the Jewish state, which is considered the main strike weapon of the IDF. They were founded in October 1947 and by the beginning of the war for independence were 4 squadrons of 28 light passenger aircraft. They were re-equipped with machine guns and makeshift bomb releasers. These machines were piloted by experienced pilots, participants in the Second World War. And although there was not a single combat aircraft among their aircraft, the actions of the first IDF squadrons terrified the Arabs.
During the war, they were joined by 25 Messerschmitts purchased from Czechoslovakia, 13 fighters purchased from the United States, and 10 from South Africa, which flew another 40 volunteer pilots.
Despite such a variegated and by no means modern equipment, Israeli aircraft dominated the battlefields, and when British attack aircraft came to the aid of the Egyptians surrounded in the Faluja area, Jewish pilots defeated them utterly, shooting down 6 aircraft.
In subsequent wars, the Hail Avir was equipped mainly with French Mister and Mirage fighters. On these machines, the Israelis steadily gained air supremacy, which was one of the main prerequisites for the defeat of the Arab armies.
And only in the 70s did the re-equipment of Hail Avir with American-made aircraft begin. At the same time, Israeli firms began to implement their own projects for the manufacture of military vehicles. And today, Israel is one of the few countries producing modern fighters, which include the Kfir in service. But even before him, Israeli designers created the Lavi fighter-bomber, which in its characteristics surpasses contemporary aircraft. The Americans literally forced them to stop fine-tuning this machine, pledging to supply their fighters in return. Today, it is they who make up the bulk of the Israeli Air Force combat aircraft fleet.
Organizationally, the Air Force consists of aviation and air defense. Heading Heil Avir Commander (in given time Major General Dan Halutz) is subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff and is responsible for the combat readiness, development, operational training and logistics of the Air Force, whose headquarters is located in Tel Aviv.
In terms of the number of aircraft and helicopters, Israeli aviation is not inferior to the leading European countries. It has more than 700 combat aircraft, of which 250 are in reserve. 18 squadrons, consisting of 86 F-15 Stike Eagle interceptors, 232 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter-bombers, 50 F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers , 100 A-4 Sky Hawk attack aircraft and 250 Kfir fighter-bombers. The basis of military aviation is the American F-15 and F-16 aircraft, capable of delivering over 10 tons of bombs and missiles to a distance of up to 1,500 km.
The reconnaissance unit includes 10 Avax aircraft, 6 Boeings equipped with the Falcon detection system, 33 long-range reconnaissance aircraft and electronic warfare aircraft. Military transport aviation consists of 5 squadrons - 34 transport and 8 refueling aircraft. The helicopter unit consists of 130 attack helicopters, 153 amphibious transport and 10 anti-submarine helicopters.
Air Force units and subunits are stationed at 10 air bases. In addition, there are 47 more airfields, of which only three have unpaved runways, the rest are paved. All of them are equipped with systems that ensure flights in difficult weather conditions and at night.
The aviation personnel numbers 21,000 people, mostly career officers and sergeants (another 20,000 are in the air defense, mostly conscripts). The Heil Avir command pays the closest attention to the recruitment and training of the flight contingent. Israel has been selecting candidates for this prestigious military service for several decades.
All recruiting offices are looking for young men who are fit for their psychophysical data to become pilots, looking for them even in secondary schools. Selected graduates go through a ten-day training camp. Those who successfully complete them are trained in flight practice on light aircraft for a year. The best students enter the Air Force Academy at the Hatzerim airbase. But, despite such a harsh selection, no more than 15% of those who entered it initially graduate from this academy.
In the future, Israeli pilots continuously improve their skills. They have the largest flying hours in the world, 30% higher than American pilots, although an hour of flight of a modern fighter costs the Israelis $ 17,000. More than half of the retired combat pilots are in the mobilization reserve and are systematically involved in flights to maintain their skills at a level not inferior to regular pilots.
Both those and other pilots are required to live in close proximity to the air base where they serve or to which they are assigned according to the mobplan. The strictest secrecy regime is observed in their relation, it is forbidden to photograph them, their names and place of residence constitute a state secret. All measures for the training of pilots and care for them are fully justified by the highest combat skills of these air fighters.
Ground technical personnel are trained at the Air Force School located in Beer Sheva, flight directors, control systems specialists are trained in Bikat-Uvda.
Upon mobilization, all Air Force reservists are required to arrive at their air bases within 24-36 hours in full readiness for combat operations. At the same time, the personnel of the Air Force is increasing by 12 thousand people.
The air defense forces became part of Hail Avir in 1965, when the American Hawk-type anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) were adopted. According to Militri Technology magazine, as of January 1, 2003, Israeli air defense consisted of 17 Advanced HOK SAM batteries, 6 Patriot SAM batteries, and 8 Chapparel short-range SAM batteries.
Despite such a relatively abundant amount of air defense systems, the Israeli leadership believed that they did not guarantee the country from being hit by operational-tactical missiles that potential adversaries have: Iraq, Iran, Syria and Egypt. Therefore, since 1988, specialists from the Israeli company Ai-Ai-Ai and the American corporation Lockheed Martin have been developing an anti-missile system (PRK), which received the name Arrow. It was created by 1998, tested, and in 2000 the first battery was put on combat duty in the positional area north of Tel Aviv.
The Arrow missile defense system is designed to confidently intercept warheads of operational-tactical missiles (with a range of up to 1,000 km) and enemy aircraft at distances up to 100 km and altitudes up to 50 km. The combat means of interception is the two-stage anti-missile "Arrow-2" with an inseparable warhead. It is equipped with a combined (infrared and radar) homing head, which ensures reliable target acquisition in adverse weather conditions and in the presence of active radio countermeasures.
High-explosive fragmentation warhead directed action with a proximity fuse strikes warheads of enemy missiles and aircraft within a radius of up to 75 m. The search system of the Arrow missile defense system is capable of detecting and tracking up to 12 targets simultaneously and directing at least two anti-missiles at each of them. In terms of its combat effectiveness, the Arrow anti-ship missile system is one of the most advanced in service in the armies of the planet.
The battery of the Arrow missile defense system consists of four launchers carrying six tube containers with anti-missiles. All installations, the detection and guidance system, as well as the battery command post are mounted on wheeled transporters with high cross-country ability, which provides the complex with sufficient mobility.
By January 1st current year in position areas south of Dimon and east of Haifa, the 2nd and 3rd batteries of the Arrow missile defense system were deployed. According to Israeli experts, they provide reliable cover from strikes of operational-tactical missiles to potential enemies - including Iraq - up to 85% of the territory of the Jewish state.
From 1999 to the present, 144 anti-missiles have been purchased for the Arrow missile defense system at a price of $1.5 million each. It is planned to purchase 30 PR annually, up to 2010.
According to NATO military analysts, Israeli military aviation, air defense and missile defense systems are currently the most modern and most combat-ready in the Middle East region.
THE STATE OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL ARMED FORCES
In operational terms, the armed forces are subdivided into three territorial districts (Northern, Central and Southern), and according to the types of troops - into land, air and naval forces.
National Army. The Israeli army has a relatively small number of regular soldiers and consists mainly of conscripts and reserves (the number of regular soldiers is relatively large in the Air Force and Navy). For this reason, the Israeli armed forces, unlike most other armies, do not form a closed professional corporation, but in the full sense of the word are a national army. The consequence of this is the interest of the Israel Defense Forces in raising the professional and general educational level of the country's population. The mobilized receive in army technical schools the knowledge and skills necessary in modern military affairs; special educational programs aimed at expanding and deepening the knowledge of soldiers in the field of Jewish history, geography, archeology of Israel, etc.; the army makes sure that new immigrants and recruits, whose formal education has not been completed, better master the skills of reading and writing; the army sends specially trained female instructors to development cities to eliminate educational disparities.
There are a number of special service programs in Tsakh Ale, including:
Yeshivot x a-x esder- a special version of military service, in which service is combined with studies in a yeshiva. This service is intended for yeshiva high school students ( Yeshivot Tikhoniyot), conscripts of Tsakh ala. The term of such service is 4 years, including 16 months of military service, and the rest of the time is studying in a yeshiva. In August 2005, the number of soldiers and officers serving in Tsakh Ala under this program reached six thousand people, 88% of them in combat units.
Air defense missions include:
- Ensuring the air defense of the country. This task is performed by Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems and advanced HAWK systems in cooperation with the command and control system and fighter aircraft.
- Ensuring the country's missile defense. A ballistic missile warning against Israel comes from a network of American early warning satellites. The interception is carried out by specialized Hetz-2 anti-missiles, and in case of failure, by Patriot missiles.
- Defense of individual military and civilian facilities (for example, air force bases, nuclear center in Dimona).
- Air defense of the ground forces. This task is performed by mobile air defense systems, their divisions are armed with Stinger and Chaparel anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as Makhbet missile and artillery systems.
- Security and ground defense of air force bases.
The first air defense systems (40 mm L-70 anti-aircraft guns) were supplied to Israel by the German government in 1962; in the same year, the first HAWK anti-aircraft missile systems arrived in Israel from the United States. It was Germany and the United States that supported the development of Israel's air defense throughout all subsequent years. As of 2002, Israel had 22 batteries of heavy anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as approximately 70 portable launchers of light anti-aircraft missile systems.
Israeli Navy for a long time remained the least developed branch of the armed forces. However, after unprecedented successes in 1973 (19 enemy ships destroyed without losses on the Israeli side), a period of rapid development began, and at present the Israeli Navy is considered not only one of the most operational in the world, but also the dominant sea power in the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
AT navy Israel serves about 9,500 people; during the mobilization of the numerical strength of the Navy, they reach 19,500 people. The Israeli navy (data for 2002) has six submarines (three of the obsolete Gal model, laid down in 1973-74, commissioned in 1976-77) and three of the Dolphin model, laid down in 1994-96, put into operation in 1999-2000), fifteen (according to other sources - twenty) corvettes of the Eilat type and missile boats of the Hetz, Aliya and Reshef types and thirty-three patrol boats.
Several units have been created in Tsakhala and the police, the main task of which is to resistance to terror. Among them: Yamam - special unit the anti-terror police, responsible for anti-terrorist operations in Israel; Saeret Matkal (General Staff Intelligence), responsible for anti-terrorist operations outside the country; Shaetet-13 (13th flotilla, special forces of the Navy, responsible for anti-terrorist operations abroad with the participation of naval forces); Lothar Eilat (Lothar - lohma be-terror/fight against terror/, unit 7707, responsible for anti-terrorist operations in Israel in the area of the city of Eilat; due to the geographical remoteness of Eilat and its proximity to the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, it was decided to create for him separate division). In addition, anti-terrorist special forces were created in each of the military districts: Saeret "Golani" (reconnaissance of the Golani infantry brigade) - in the North, Saeret Tsankhanim (reconnaissance of the parachute brigade), Saeret Nahal (reconnaissance of the Nahal infantry brigade) and Saeret " Duvdevan" (special unit of the so-called mistarvim operating in Arabic camouflage in controlled territories) - in the Central and Saeret "Giv'ati" (reconnaissance of the infantry brigade "Giv'ati") - in the Southern Military District. In 1995, for the confrontation " guerrilla war"Saeret "Egoz" was recreated in Lebanon (disbanded in 1974 together with Saeret "Cheruv" and Saeret "Shaked"); subsequently, the fighters of this detachment made an invaluable contribution to the fight against Palestinian terror in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Gaza.
Nuclear potential. The existence of a constant threat national security from its Arab neighbors is forcing Israel to maintain a powerful armed force in the country, equipped modern means armed struggle, including weapons mass destruction. Although Israel has never held open nuclear testing Israel is now estimated to be the world's sixth largest nuclear powers after the USA, Russia, England, France and China. Israel's nuclear program dates back to the 1950s; D. Ben-Gurion and S. Perez stood at its origins. Scientific support nuclear program carried out by a team of scientists from. In 1952, the Nuclear Energy Commission, headed by E. D. Bergman, was established under the control of the Department of Defense. In 1956, Israel entered into a secret agreement with France to build a plutonium nuclear reactor. The reactor began to be built in a remote corner of the Negev desert, near Dimona. The facility for reprocessing irradiated fuel was created in 1960, and the 26 MW reactor was put into operation in 1963. (Now the reactor power reaches 150 MW, which, according to experts, makes it possible to obtain weapons-grade plutonium in an amount sufficient to produce more than ten bombs average yield per year.) By the Six Day War, the first two nuclear devices had already been assembled, starting in 1970, Israel began to produce from three to five nuclear charges per year. At the same time, Israel refused to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, reaching an understanding with the US administration (and personally with President R. Nixon), according to which, "it was assumed, but not recognized" that Israel was a state possessing nuclear weapons. Only on July 13, 1998, at a press conference in Jordan, S. Peres, who was then Prime Minister of Israel, for the first time publicly admitted that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, but neither he nor any other of the Israeli leaders, either then or later did not release any details relating to this area. According to various estimates, by now Israel could potentially have from one hundred to five hundred nuclear warheads, the total TNT equivalent of which could be up to fifty megatons. Since 1963, Israel has been developing ballistic missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Back in 1989, successful tests passed ballistic missile"Jericho-2B" with a range of up to 1,500 km, capable of hitting targets, including throughout Libya and Iran. The Israeli Armed Forces also have airborne nuclear delivery vehicles (including the US-made F-16, F-4E Phantom and A-4N Sky Hawk aircraft). Israel is the only power in the Middle East a high degree having a probability nuclear systems land, sea and air based weapons.
Israeli defense spending in 2002 they amounted to 9.84 billion dollars (1984 - 4.3 billion dollars). Although Israel's defense spending has been steadily rising, on a per capita basis, it has remained relatively stable, albeit quite high, at about $1,500 a year.
A major contribution to the maintenance of Israel's defense capability is made by military assistance received by Israel from the United States. For the first time, Israel received gratuitous military aid from the United States in 1974 (worth one and a half billion dollars). For the period from 1974 to 2002. Israel received $41.06 billion in free military aid from the United States. At the same time, Israel is obliged to spend most of the military aid funds in the United States, for the acquisition of military equipment, spare parts, ammunition and equipment, which hinders the development of defense industry enterprises in Israel itself.
Procurement, production and export of weapons. The first major purchases of weapons were made in 1948 in Czechoslovakia (rifles, machine guns, and later fighters of the Messerschmidt type). At the same time, Israel was buying weapons from France and other countries, as well as acquiring surplus US military equipment. In 1952, Israel signed an agreement with the US government on the purchase of military equipment, but during this period the share of Israeli military purchases in the US was insignificant. The first jet planes of the Israeli Air Force - "Meteor" - were bought from Great Britain, which eventually became the main supplier of naval equipment, primarily destroyers and submarines. In the 1950s France is gradually becoming the main supplier of weapons to the Israel Defense Forces (primarily jet aircraft) - up to the embargo on the supply of weapons to Israel, imposed on June 2, 1967 by President de Gaulle. In the 1960s the role of the United States as a supplier of weapons for the Israel Defense Forces is growing - however, the United States becomes the main supplier only after the Six Day War.
The power of the Israel Defense Forces is determined not only by modern weapons purchased from abroad, but to a large extent depends on the industrial infrastructure with which the Israeli armed forces form a single military-industrial complex: the armed forces set technical tasks for the Israeli military industry, and the military industry enriches the arsenal Tsakh ala with its technical achievements, opening up new operational possibilities. The high level of the Israeli military industry is the result not so much of economic factors as of political decisions, since from the very first days of the existence of the Jewish state it became obvious that in emergency circumstances one cannot rely on the delivery of weapons and equipment ordered from abroad. Today, the products of the Israeli industry cover almost all major branches of military production and include electronic and electrical equipment(in particular, radar and telecommunications equipment - an area in which Israel is among the world's best manufacturers), precision optical equipment, light shooting weapons, artillery and mortars, rockets, some of which are the most advanced in their class, tanks, aircraft (light - for operational communications and maritime patrols, transport, unmanned aerial vehicles, fighters and fighter-bombers), combat ships, ammunition, personal equipment, military medical equipment, etc.
By the beginning of 2002, the total number of enterprises of the military-industrial complex (MIC) of Israel was about one hundred and fifty, and the total number of employees in defense enterprises exceeded fifty thousand people (of which about twenty-two thousand people are employed in three state-owned companies: the Aviation Industry Concern ”, the association“ Military Industry ”and in the Office for the Development of Arms“ Rafael ”).
The total volume of production of the Israeli military-industrial complex in 2001 exceeded $3.5 billion, and Israeli defense enterprises signed contracts for the export of their products in the amount of $2.6 billion (Israel accounts for 8% of world arms exports). The Israeli military industry not only provides a significant part of Tsakhal's need for weapons, equipment and equipment, but also exports its products for hundreds of millions of dollars to the South (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru) and Central (Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico). ) America, South Africa, East Asia (Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand) and many other countries that avoid publicizing their military purchases in Israel, as well as NATO countries, including the United States. In recent years, Israel has been successfully developing military-technical cooperation with China, India, Turkey and the countries of Eastern Europe.
The products of the Israeli military industry are in demand on the world market due to their high quality. The aircraft converted by Israeli enterprises in recent years are in service with Croatia, Romania, Turkey, Zambia, Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka and other countries. Israel controls 90% of the world market for unmanned aircraft, with the United States being the main buyer; many other countries also acquire this technique. Among the important objects of Israeli export of military equipment, one should also note the means of communication (for example, search and detection systems for ejected pilots of aircraft and helicopters, as well as reconnaissance and special forces fighters, which make it possible to establish their location with an accuracy of 10 m); sights and night vision devices for both small arms and armored vehicles and helicopters; electronic combat control systems for units of various levels; radar installations for different types of weapons; means of searching and detecting mines, unexploded ordnance (which is very important for many countries in Asia and Africa); robots for the safe detonation of detected explosive devices; small arms and many other types of military equipment and equipment. The advantage of Israeli weapons and military equipment supplied to the foreign market is that almost all of it has been tested in real combat operations, modified in accordance with the requirements of the field conditions of its operation and therefore is very reliable. The proceeds from the export of the Israeli military industry serve its further development.
UPDATED VERSION OF THE ARTICLE IS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION
