I was using Google Earth, Erez, It’s basically the same thing, just repackaged.

I took a look at various bits of Australia, just for interest, looks like a nice place Ja.

If you look carefully, you can make out the DMZ in Korea, including some North Korean facilities.

Yes I know, but Google Earth also provides you with actual terrain level, some 3D models, 3D views on the planet and other useful information.

the trick with defending small areas is NOT to wait until the enemy has a chance to appear at the border and lay siege but attack the enemy in depth far away as possible.

presently Israel’s “border” is the combat radius of a loaded F16I/F15I.

You are right about that, yet the question is whether the IDF/AF could face the numeric superiority of these countries.
Up until now, it handled a few Arab countries that fought against us together, but still they weren’t in the size of the US/Russia/China airforces. Not to mention the fact that each of these airforces has better trained pilots than the average Arab state. When it comes to the US and Russia, they also got good fighter jets.

Israel has a good airforce, but as I said before, it is designed to face regional threats, such as Syria and Iran. Comparing it in a full scale war scenario with airforces of the US and other major global powers just doesn’t make much sense.

The best airforce in the world is without a doubt the USAF, mainly due to its size.

But it depends what do you mean by “best”. In any war, the USAF will defeat any airforce is the world. Theoretically, the USAF alone could destroy Israel, using conventional means, in a few days if not less.

The Israeli AF is probably the best airforce of the smaller sized airforces, after the US, China and Russia. It is a West European style airforce and comparable to the RAF and French airforce. Israel has to deal with potential enemies such as Syria and Iran, and for that it’s more than capable. The only airforces in the region close to it are the Turkish and Egyptian airforces, yet even they lack what the Israeli AF has, either when it comes to technology, in the Turkish case, or training, in the Egyptian case.

As for its pilots – it’s one of the leading airforces in the world when it comes to training, and its pilots are certainly among the best in the world. Yet one must remember that the last dogfight the IAF had was over 20 years ago, and the last major war was 23 years ago, without considering the current fighting. The quality of the Israeli AF today is based on high technology, years of past combat experience, excellent training and free and original thinking of its men and women.

Probably fake, looks like a Tiger (or Tigershark) and F-18 hybrid, with the F-18 type intakes on top of the fuselage.

(kind of) Off topic:
In the next couple of weeks a new book about the Phantom in Israeli service is about to be completed, written by Shlomo Aloni, Andreas Klein and Avinoam Mysnikov. The book will cover all 35 years of Phantom service in Israel, and will include around 250 pages in a hard cover, 500 colour pictures with English and German captions, 10 chapters, 6 addendums, profiles, tail and manufacturer numbers and planty of other information.

In addition, a new book about the 107 squadron (“The knights of the orange tail”) by Shlomo Aloni was already released. It’s a book about the squadron, so only a part of it is about the Phantom, as this squadron operated many other airplanes. Currently (it’s a couple of days old) it’s available only in the publisher (Andreas Klein). You can contact him using this email address:

[email]andreasklein@ak-airdoc.de[/email]

Thought some of the phans here would be intrested to know.
Here are the books’ covers.
P.S: Just wanted to clarify one thing: I’m not connected in any way to these books’ publishers and I’m not trying to give these books free adverts here, just my personal note as this information was published by other people in other forums.

Well, the Arrow isn’t exactly a traditional SAM, it targers other missiles, not airplanes.

inshallah we shall see the Arrow2 in few yrs atleast for major cities. however to be more effective the system needs feed from US early warning sats. israel gets this feed, we will need to sign on to this also if we want to extend visibility beyond the Green Pine.

Erez, there are huge benefits in trade, technology and geopolitics from siding with the biggest animal in the forest. if you look at “decent” US allies like EU/Aus/Japan/SouthKorea/Taiwan/Singapore/Israel they have benefitted a lot. some “allies of convenience” without the economy and political stability have ofcourse got the shaft – I need not name them here 😉

India’s main priority is not to be a superpower but moving 250 mil away from poverty as soon as feasible with the least amt of social disruption. Economy and trade is the key, power will follow.

No doubt about what you said.
What I said was that for India there are two main options – stick to its current status or become a first class US ally.
Both of these options offer great things for India, with the option to stand aside the US offering what you described above.

About India’s social problems – when I’m talking about India becoming a superpower, I mean not only by having a large and powerful army but also to reduce poverty to the minimum, developing the countrysides and developing science, academics and high tech.
As you said, economy and trade are the main keys for that – and that’s exactly what you’re doing now.

About the Green Pine and the Americans satellites – it depends how far you want to see. The Green Pine located in one of the Arrow batteries in Israel deteced to launches of the Syrian Scud missiles a while ago, in Syria’s northen border. That means a lot.