Israeli Air Force its types of aircraft. Israeli air force

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 air base. 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. They are under the strictest secrecy, they are not allowed to be photographed, their names and places of residence are 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.

Air defense troops became part of Hail Avir in 1965, when American anti-aircraft missile systems(SAM) type "Hawk". 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.

Battery PRK "Arrow" consists of four launchers carrying six tube containers with anti-missiles. All installations, detection and guidance system, as well as command post The batteries are mounted on wheeled conveyors 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.

G., a major in the Israeli Air Force, repatriated from Ukraine. He completed a very demanding military pilot course and currently serves as a second in command of a squadron. In a conversation with the "Cursor" he spoke about his service.

Tell us about yourself first. Where did you immigrate from, where did you study?

I immigrated from Ukraine in 1996 with my parents, at the time of moving to Israel I was 14.5 years old. He graduated from school here, then received a deferment from military service and completed his first degree in electronics at the Technion. After graduation, he was mobilized. I am now married and we have four children. My wife and children live at the Air Force base, there is a special village for officers and their families. In the army, I took a leave of absence to complete my second degree, also in engineering.

Did you want to serve in aviation?

No, I was more attracted to the infantry, but the army offered me pilot courses. I became interested, learned about flying specialties, and decided to try. There were many selection interviews. The course lasts three years, almost the entire military service. Several hundred people enter, a few dozen graduate. In addition to me, at the beginning of the course there were several other repatriates, about ten people, but among those who successfully completed the course, only I was a repatriate. But this is not because of the "glass ceiling", since during the training of the army it does not matter what language the cadet speaks at home. The percentage of repatriates who successfully completed the course, compared to the number of those who began training, does not differ from that of native Israelis.

The course is very difficult, but the main difficulties are mental rather than physical. Physical exercise the foot soldiers, perhaps, are higher. And it turns out that for three years a cadet is checked, tested and examined every day. However, you can get used to this. The hardest part of the course is the flight. From a physical point of view, the most difficult period is the first year, when we go through the course of a young fighter, perform orientation on the ground and other similar tasks.

What is your flying specialty?

Combat aircraft navigator F-15 and F-16 . For each specialty during the course, a separate selection is carried out, that is, a separate specialization - aircraft pilots, helicopter pilots, navigators, and so on.

After the course, pilots undergo another year of additional training, including operational training. For navigators, such training lasts six months. Then they are enlisted in the squadron, where they have another year of training flights, and only then are they allowed to fly on combat missions. For the first two years of service in the squadron, the pilot and navigator come to the unit every day, as if to work. Then they are transferred to other positions, for example, to headquarters or to a flight school, and they have to fly once a week. Then they are given command posts or transferred to the reserve. In the reserve, they also come every week to make training flights.

After the course, I got into the squadron F-16i , spent the first two years there, then became a flight simulator instructor, then returned to the squadron and became the commander of new pilots and navigators. Then I took the post of second deputy commander. Then he commanded a squadron at the flight academy. Now I am the first deputy squadron commander F-15i "Patishim". I have under my command all the pilots and navigators, soldiers and conscripts directly related to flights. In the coming years, I will stay in the army, and then we will see.

What tasks did you have to complete?

There can be many combat missions, and they are diverse - sorties to intercept an air target, strikes on a ground one. The planes I fly are mostly missions against ground targets. Accordingly, I performed such tasks. I can't say more.

Air Force - elite troops ...

I wouldn't say so. We are part of the Israeli army. We have our own machines that allow us to complete tasks and missions that others cannot do, but that's all. This is our job. Other branches of the military have other tasks. But everyone does their own thing and contributes.

But at the same time, you associate yourself with the army almost for the rest of your life, even if you decide to end your military career.

Yes, every week - one flight. Up to 51 years old you can fly combat aircraft, up to 60 years old - as an instructor at a flight school. At 18, you think more about flying romance than about the distant future, and you don’t really think about such things. But now I even like it. Flying is great, and the more you can fly, the better. Many pilots would be happy to continue flying further, after reaching the age limit.

Has anything changed in the training of pilots after being deployed in Syria Russian funds Air defense - S-300 and S-400?

Russian air defense systems that appeared in Syria have long been known to us, and we last years we conduct training taking into account the capabilities of these weapons. We are training not for the last, but for the next war. Such systems may appear in many potential adversaries, and we take all this into account. Our training is built taking into account all types of weapons that may appear with opponents.

And how much does air defense develop today?

Air defense systems are being actively developed and improved, both in the western and eastern blocs. There are many new developments, both in our country and in other countries. This direction is very popular, as it is much cheaper than the production of aircraft and the training of pilots. It is much easier to train the calculations of air defense batteries.

The main difference, in my opinion, is the quality training and careful selection of pilots and navigators. The Israeli Air Force has the privilege of being the first to select new recruits, and this is a big plus. Thanks to this, our Air Force remains at a very high level. In addition, we have some of the best aircraft in the world, F-15i and F -16i equipped with Israeli systems that our opponents do not have. We also have a lot of accumulated experience, we have developed our own tactics and strategy.

One of our features is that we still pay a lot of attention to the training of pilots for close combat, when it is necessary to shoot down an enemy aircraft from a gun. Most other air forces have abandoned this in favor of missiles. And with us this is still a basic exercise, and skills in handling modern weapons are based on the skills acquired in training for close combat. We believe that a pilot must always react quickly, think and make decisions, and this is best trained in close combat. One who is good at close quarters will be good at both range and bombardment.

And if we compare our pilots with pilots from other countries?

It is difficult to make such a comparison, since in joint exercises we are not against each other, but together. I would say that in Western countries pilot training is good, but with its own specifics.

For example, american training slightly different from ours. The Americans are used to acting in masses, they have thousands of aircraft, and their pilots simply follow orders and act strictly according to instructions. In our country, it is customary to be flexible, since there are many potential opponents around with different aircraft, and the situation in the air can change at any second. We learn to make decisions in accordance with such changes. The Americans, on the other hand, carefully prepare the operation, and then strictly follow the developed plan.

I saw Russian and Ukrainian pilots only during forest fires with us, I happened to accompany them on flights with fire aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry in 2010 and 2016 and the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry in 2016.

Pilots in all countries are similar, we speak a language understandable to each other.

Sometimes one gets the impression that aviation is being given an increasingly dominant role, while other troops are becoming its appendage.

Actually it is not. Over time, the integration of all branches of the military is becoming closer. Modern systems air and ground forces allow them to constantly engage in dialogue. At the same time, the headquarters sees the overall picture, ground and air, and this provides the necessary information node for decision-making. Combat in the air and combat on the ground today are closely connected, there are special Air Force officers who accompany the ground troops and coordinate their interaction with us. This was not the case in the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Pilots do a lot of training with ground troops these days.

Now unmanned aircraft is actively developing. What do you think is her future?

Yes, of course, everything goes to this. Israel is one of the world leaders in unmanned aerial vehicles. I think in another 30 years, and most missions will be carried out by unmanned aircraft. While this is not yet the case, the level of technology does not allow replacing a person watching the battle from above with his own eyes, not yet full opportunity replace a person in all tasks. But this, I repeat, is only a matter of time.

Not sad?

Enough combat missions for my age.

HAIL 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 of 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 2nd 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 aviation dominated the battlefields, and when British attack aircraft came to the aid of the Egyptians surrounded in the Fallujah 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. And the Americans literally forced them to stop fine-tuning this machine, pledging to supply their own fighters in return. Today, it is they who make up the bulk of the Israeli Air Force combat aircraft fleet.

Organizationally, they consist of aviation and air defense. Heil Avir Commander (currently 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. 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 front-line attack aircraft A-4 "Sky Hawk" and 250 fighter-bombers "Kfir". 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. In Israel, for several decades, the selection of candidates for this, frankly speaking, the most prestigious military profession has been established.

All recruiting offices are looking for young men who are most suitable in terms of their psychophysical data to become pilots, looking for them even in secondary schools. Selected graduates go through a ten-day gathering. Those who successfully complete it are trained in flight practice on light aircraft for a year. The best become applicants for admission to the Air Force Academy, located at the Hatzerim airbase. But, despite such a severe selection, no more than 15 percent of those who entered it initially graduate from this academy.

In the future, Israeli pilots continuously improve their skills. They have the largest flight time in the world, 30 percent superior to American pilots, although an hour of flight of a modern fighter aircraft costs the Israelis $ 17,000. More than half of the combat pilots who have served are in the mobilization reserve and are systematically involved in flights in order to save 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 activities for the training of pilots and care for them are fully justified by the highest combat skills of these air fighters, who have earned the fame of the best in the world.

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 then modern American Hawk-type anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) were put into service. 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 a positional area north of Tel Aviv.

The Arrow missile defense system is designed to confidently intercept warheads of operational-tactical missiles (range up to a thousand 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.

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, perfect complex onboard 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? Small, light, swift interceptor - the MiG did not have super-powerful radars, long-range AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and impressive complexes of aiming and navigation equipment - combat capabilities 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 aircraft refused to join the battle - if there was the slightest danger of a military collision, 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 links.

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

One of the types armed forces Israel, formed in 1948. There are four types of aviation: tactical, fighter air defense, reconnaissance and transport.

population personnel The Israeli Air Force is 35 thousand people, of which about 20 thousand are conscripts (mainly in air defense units). The number of reservists is 24.5 thousand people.

• Combat aircraft (F-15 Eagle (And also F-15I, special modification for Israel), F-16 Fighting Falcon (And also F-16I, special modification for Israel). The first batch of F-16 aircraft entered service in 1980 .
• Combat helicopters (AH-1 Cobra, AH-64 Apache)
• Transport aircraft (C-130 Hercules)
• Transport helicopters (CH-53 Sea Stallion, UH-60 Black Hawk)
• Multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicles (Hermes 450, IAI Heron)
• The "Shaldag" (kingfisher) unit is the special forces of the Israeli Air Force.
• Unit 669 - rescue and evacuation unit.

The airfield network of Israel has about 57 airfields, 54 of them have runways with artificial turf (including two with runways longer than 3,000 m, six - from 2,500 to 3,000 m, eight - from 1,500 to 2,500 m, seven - from 900 to 1,500 m and 31 - up to 900 m) and three unpaved.

Commander of the Israeli Air Force since February 15, 2008 - Major General Ido Nekhoshtan, who replaced Eliezer Shkedi.

Locations

• Tel Nof Air Base
• Airbase "Hatserim"
• Airbase "Ovda"
• Ramon Air Base
• Beit Zechariah Air Base
• Sde Dov Air Base
• Airbase "Hatsor"
• Ramat David Air Base
• Airbase "Palmakhim"
• Airbase "Nevatim"
• Airbase "Lod"

Equipment and weapons

The most massive combat aircraft of the Israeli Air Force is the F-16 modifications C and D - there are 124 of them.

The total number of F-16 aircraft in service with Israeli aviation is 240-244, including 12 F-16I aircraft, the deliveries of which are completed in 2009.

It is planned that by 2014 the fifth-generation F-35 multirole fighters will begin to enter service.

In 2009, 25 aircraft of this type were ordered, at the second stage it is planned to purchase 50 more.