Amazing Israel Air Force, Kheil HaAvir.
The Israeli Air Force was established using commandeered or donated civilian aircraft and obsolete and surplus World War II combat aircraft. Eventually, more aircraft were procured, including Boeing B-17s, Bristol Beaufighters, de Havilland Mosquitoes and P-51D Mustangs. The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh, Israel's part in the 1956 Suez Crisis, dropping paratroopers at the Mitla Pass. On June 5, 1967.
Main article: History of the Israeli Air Force
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Forerunners of the Israeli Air Force were the Palestine Flying Service established by the Irgun in 1937, and Sherut Avir, the air wing of the Haganah. The Israeli Air Force formed on May 28, 1948, shortly after Israel declared statehood and found itself under attack. The force consisted of a hodge-podge of commandeered or donated civilian aircraft converted to military use. A variety of obsolete and surplus ex-World War II combat-aircraft were quickly sourced by various means to supplement this fleet. The backbone of the IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199s purchased from Czechoslovakia, essentially Czechoslovak-built Messerschmitt Bf 109s, and 60 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IXEs, the first of which, "Israel 1", was locally assembled from British abandoned spare parts and a salvaged engine from an Egyptian Air Force Spitfire, with most of the rest purchased from Czechoslovakia
 Emblem of the Israeli Air and Space Arm . |
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| Founded | 28 May 1948; 75 years ago |
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| Country |
 Israel
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| Part of | Israel Defense Forces |
| Headquarters | HaKirya, Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of the Air Force | Aluf Tomer Bar |
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| Roundel |   |
| Flag |  |
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The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh, Israel's part in the 1956 Suez Crisis. At the launch of the operation, on October 29, Israeli P-51D Mustangs, some using their propeller blades, severed telephone lines in the Sinai. 16 IAF DC-3s – escorted by fighters – dropped Israeli paratroopers behind Egyptian lines at the Mitla Pass and Et-Tur. The Israeli Air Force conducted attacks on Egyptian ground units and assisted the Israeli Navy in capturing the Egyptian Navy destroyer Ibrahim el Awal, which had bombarded the Israeli city of Haifa – an airstrike damaged the Egyptian ship's engines, enabling Israeli ships to reach it and capture it
Aircraft Inventory Israel Air Force current.
As of November 2023, the IAF fleet consists of the following aircraft:
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Yom Kippur War 1973
On October 6, 1973, with war imminent, the IAF began preparing for a pre-emptive strike against Egyptian and Syrian airfields and anti-aircraft positions. The Israeli government decided against pre-emption. IAF aircraft were therefore in the process of re-armament to the air-to-air role when Yom Kippur War hostilities began at 14:00. The next morning began with Operation Tagar, a SEAD offensive against Egyptian air defences, beginning with strikes against Egyptian air bases. Tagar was quickly discontinued when the dire situation on the Golan Heights became apparent.
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Dassault Rafale (French pronunciation: [ʁafal], literally meaning "gust of wind",[3] or "burst of fire" in a more military sense)
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| Role | Multirole fighter aircraft |
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| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics Lockheed Martin |
| First flight | 20 January 1974 |
| Introduction | 17 August 1978 |
| Status | In service, in production |
| Primary users | United States Air Force 25 other users (see operators page) |
| Number built | 4,500+ |
| Variants | General Dynamics F-16 VISTA |
| Developed into | Vought Model 1600 General Dynamics F-16XL Mitsubishi F-2 |
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