The mighty IDF/AF

I’ve noticed a real lack of discussion on IDF/AF.

Amazing as it’s perhaps the most successful air force of the post WWII period.

It’s also the only air force in the 21st century to ever gain A2A kills against enemy fighters (a couple of Syrian MiG-29s waaay back in 2002 – http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_437.shtml !).

They’re also still very active in combat ops with long range strikes against Sudan, and strike missions flown against Syria and Palestinian militants.

WIth Palestinian issue ongoing, rise of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and slow decline in relationship between Israel and Egypt, deterioration in relationships with Turkey (including strategically important Israeli-Cypriot oil/gas exploration), implosion of Syria, ongoing Iranian nuclear ambitions and Hezbollah activities in Lebanon we can expect IDF/AF to potentailly have a very busy couple of decades ahead of itself.

New developments in IDF/AF
-Acquisition of C-130Js to start replacing older C-130E/H.

– Order for 30 x M346 Lavi to replace venerable A-4

– Acquisition of up to 100 F-35I to 2030.

– Possibly up to 3 ex-USAF KC-135s. Israel is demanding KC-135R as opposed to older KC-135Es which may be the ones on offer.

– There were rumblings of an additional F-15 squadron to be acquired as a “stop gap” prior to delivery of F-35s. I’m not sure if these were new build or second hand. HOWEVER, since then Israel has announced defence cutbacks which includes disbanding at least 1 fighter squadron.

Current fighter fleet
100-ish F-16I
250-ish F-16A/B/C/D. Israel is selling off some of the F-16A/Bs. It’s not sure if these are in service aircraft or aircraft already retired.

50-ish F-15A/B/C/D – includes oldest F-15s in active combat service
25 F-15I

Current attack helos
45-ish AH-64A/D
30-ish AH-1

Current transport helos
50-ish S-70/UH-60
37-ish CH-53 – again some of these are quite old airframes but Israelis have upgraded them quite extensively. Israel is looking at CH-53K.

There’s a whole menagerie of transport, trainers and EW aircraft. Israel also operates a lot of UAVs, most of which are indigenous.

The Israelis are also one of the airforces that uses Western combat aircraft in camouflage different from that tedious grey schemes seen just about everywhere: