The Israeli Air Force’s International 2015

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2015, a year packed with international activity in multiple fields – diplomacy, research, strategy, training, mutual learning, and more. Here is our recap of the largest and most important events in the IAF’s international cooperation campaign of 2015

Photo: The late Col. Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli Astronaut
January: The Tenth International Space ConferenceOn January, the Tenth International Space Conference was held in Israel as the summation of the Israeli Space Week. "The conference is a meeting place for scientists and industries from Israel and the world. It serves as a hotbed for creation of cooperation which makes research and wide business and scientific development possible", said Menachem Kidron, the Director of the Israel Space Agency. Reuven Rivlin, the President of Israel added, "Israel is at the spearhead of space research but we cannot carry out research without collaborators and cooperation". Life on earth as we know it today is flooded with physical and mental boundaries. Space, on the other hand, is borderless and thusly is an ideal place for cooperation.

February: English day in the Northern ATC UnitAiming to improve the communication skills between the Israeli controllers and foreign controllers, the soldiers of the IAF Northern ATC Unit set Hebrew aside and spoke only English for an entire day. Learning and practicing English in the ATC Unit took on added importance when it was discovered that most of the aviation accidents in 2008 were a result of miscommunication in English.

March: International UAV CourseThis March, the IAF's UAV School opened its gates to Italian and American UAV operators who arrived at the "Palmachim" Airbase with the aim of familiarizing themselves with the Israeli UAV activity. The two-week course included lessons and joint missions with the "Hermes 450" and "Hermes 900". The course was conducted as part of the IAF efforts to strengthen cooperation with foreign counterparts and to position the school as an international center of knowledge for UAVs.

April: Aid Mission in Nepal Following the disastrous earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, an IAF aid mission took off for Nepal on April 26, 2015. The aid mission was made up of Medical and Psychological teams, from the Aerial Medical Unit, 669 and numerous IAF Airbases, a team from the Home Front Command, and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The mission was led by a pioneer team sent to assess the situation and report back to headquarters about the required equipment and relevant relief forces. Following the pioneer missions report, two C-130J Super Hercules loaded with relevant equipment and personnel and one Boeing 707 left for Nepal. This was the Israeli Super Hercules' first operational mission, closely following the "Elephants" Squadron being officially operationalized. "We are utilizing the aircraft's advantages - it's bigger and can carry more equipment. We have only just received it and are already using it", said Col. (Res.) Avshalom, the Squadron's Operation Manager at the time. "Nevatim" Airbase Commander Brig. Gen. Lihu Hacohen added: "The IAF transport squadrons are well-trained for a quick take off when help is needed somewhere in the world. It is our privilege and obligation to help wherever life can be saved".

May: Trailblazing Aerial Defense ConferenceThis May, Commanders of Aerial Defense Forces from around the world arrived in Israel to participate in a first-of-its-kind conference regarding Aerial Defense.
The goal of the conference, was to create a professional, operational discussion between the commanders of Aerial Defense Forces from around the world. The event was attended by commanders from Canada, USA, Greece, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and Poland. The commanders were presented with the missions of the force and its unique military doctrine and discussed optional opportunities for cooperation.

Photo: IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel and the U.S Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James
June: Strategic Agreement with the USAFThis June, the cooperation between the Israeli and United States' Air Forces was deepened as in an unprecedented and historic step, the forces signed a strategic agreement, the ASNR, aimed at institutionalizing their joint activity. "It is a constitutive moment and a significant milestone in the cooperation between the forces, realized for the first time as signed agreement", said Brigadier General Ya'akov Sharabani, then IAF Attaché in Washington. The process that preceded the signing lasted nearly two years and began with General Mark Welsh's, USAF Chief of Staff visit of the IAF in August 2013. "We translated our vision for cooporation into an operational paper which provides an exact definition of that endeavor".
"The ASNR is not only a very practical framework for moving forward the issues both of our air forces care about, but it also clearly serves as evidence of the deep and committed friendship between us", added Maj. Gen. Lawrence Martin, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of International Affairs in the USAF.

July: 669 in International Training Exercise in ArizonaThis July, the IAF's SAR Unit 669 took part in the "Angel Thunder" International Search and Rescue Training Exercise in the United States with SAR units from 13 different countries for the first time. Rescuing civilians from disaster areas, rescuing soldiers from a plane crash scene inside a hostile village, evacuating diplomats caught in a terrorist attack and rescuing injured individuals from an attacked bus: These were just some of the scenarios practiced by the 669 SAR combatants during "Angel Thunder". 2,100 participants from SAR units from 13 different countries including Germany, Britain and Denmark, spent 1,030 hours in the air and simulated over 50 airborne rescue missions. The combined teams flew together aboard the "Black Hawk", "CH-53" helicopters and V-22 "Osprey" in an extremely large playground, stretching over tens of thousands of kilometers in Arizona and New-Mexico.

 

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August: Helicopters on Mt. Olympus - Mutual Training Exercise in GreeceThis August, the IAF carried out one of its most complex deployments abroad when the Israeli Helicopter Division took part in a unique training exercise in Greece alongside Hellenic helicopters and fighter jets. The exercise was held in Larissa Airbase of the Hellenic Air Force, incorporating the Israeli Helicopters Division and the helicopters of the Hellenic Army land forces.
The Israeli-Greek cooperation has been gaining momentum over the past years and in light of the success of recent deployments, the mutual flights will probably continue in 2016. "We understand the great importance of joint activity with the State of Israel, which contributes to the security of both countries", stated Colonel Dormitis Stephzanki, the commander of Larissa Airbase.

September: Red FlagThis September, the IAF returned from the "Red Flag", a wide-scale international training exercise in the USA. The event, which is considered one of the world's most prestigious and challenging war training exercises, included a number of IAF aircrafts.
For two intense weeks, the Israeli teams flew with partners from all over the world in the "Nellis" Air Force Base in Nevada while being challenged by the American Aggressor "Red" squadron. The pilots and Weapon Systems Operators trained alongside some of the most advanced aircraft in the world such as the F-22, F-18 and the F-35. The training sessions included changing scenarios and missions which were completed by dozens of fighter jets, refueling airplanes, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and reconnaissance airplanes.

October: Blue FlagAs is known, the IAF doesn't rest. Immediately following the "Red Flag" exercise in the U.S, the IAF hosted the second "Blue Flag" training exercise - the largest aerial training exercise in the history of the IAF. The "Blue-Flag" was a comprehensive international training exercise held for the second time this year, with the participation of the United States Air Force, the Polish Air Force, the Hellenic Air Force and other foreign Air Forces. The goal of the exercise was to simulate extreme combat scenarios and fly in coalition as realistically as possible. The exercise has become an international point of interest: 24 foreign attaches from all over the globe toured the "Ouvda" Airbase over the past two weeks. An additional 34 foreign observers from countries that did not participate in the exercise this year also arrived to observe the largest exercise in the IAF's history.
"The 'Blue-Flag' is a strategic exercise on the national level", explains Lt. Col. Tomer, Commander of the "Knights of the Orange Tail" Squadron, which led the exercise. "The Israeli Air Force is in the first league of Air Forces in the world. We may not be members of NATO, but we speak the language and know how to get the work do".

Photo: The Head of the JPO with an IAF Site Reporter
November: Head of the F-35 Joint Program Office VisitThis November, Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, Head of the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) visited Israel leading up to the arrival of the first two F-35 stealth fighters to Israel a year from now. The JPO is the global leader in development of the F-35 jets, and as such, it is also responsible for the advancement of the Israeli project and the successful reception of the jets in the IAF. In an exclusive interview with the IAF site, Lt. Gen. Bogdan said: "I came to Israel in order to make sure all of the preparations leading up to the arrival of the first F-35 jets are progressing as expected, and in order to listen to all of the concerns that the Senior Officers in the Ministry of Defense and the IDF have regarding the reception of the jets and new systems - and solve them".

December: Strengthening Cooperation in IndiaThis December, Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel visited the Indian Air Force. There may be over 4,000 Kilometers between Israel and India but the Israeli and Indian Air Forces have common interests and platforms. Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel visited India as a part of the strengthening of the cooperation between the forces. The IAF Commander met with the Indian Air Force Commander, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. Later in his visit, the IAF Commander met with the Indian Minister of Defence and senior Indian army officials and Military Industries. The two forces operate the "Heron" UAV and the "Super Hercules C-130J". During his visit, Maj. Gen. Eshel said that the Israeli Air Force considers the Indian Air Force a strategic ally and that the cooperation is important. Moreover, the two commanders shared lessons in the fields of operations, maintenance, matters of force buildup and personnel training.