| 166 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 166 Squadron logo | |
| Active | 2003 - Today |
| Country | Israel |
| Branch | Israeli Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Palmahim airbase |
| Nickname(s) | 1st Zik Squadron |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Hermes 900 | |
The 166 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Fire Birds Squadron, is an Elbit Hermes 900 squadron based at Palmachim Airbase. [1]
Squadron 166 was established in February 1999 , as a classified project whose purpose was to operate in emergency situations only. [2]
A few years later, it was realized in the Air Force that the efficiency and advanced features of the UAV can be of great benefit in the ongoing security and combat routine. In 2003, the project was founded as Squadron 166 and since then the squadron has taken part in any operational activity or war when its mission is to collect Signal intelligence, visual intelligence and aerial photographs. From the beginning of its activity, the squadron operated the Hermes 450 ("Zik") aircraft and was the first squadron to operate it in the Air Force, therefore the squadron received the nickname "the first Zik squadron". [3] It then switched to Hermes 900 Aircraft.
The Israeli Air Force operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. As of April 2022, Aluf Tomer Bar has been serving as the Air Force commander.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India's aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal. After India gained independence from United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of the Dominion of India. With the transition to a republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed.
The Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan is a French fighter-bomber developed and produced by Dassault Aviation. It has its origins in a private venture by Dassault to produce an all-French aircraft which would make use of jet propulsion, which subsequently would receive orders from the French Air Force.
The 69 "Hammers" Squadron is an Israeli Air Force squadron operating the F-15I Thunder out of Hatzerim. It was formed in July 1948 to operate three B-17 Flying Fortresses which the fledgling Israeli Air Force had acquired in the United States. The squadron flew the Flying Fortress, an aircraft credited with propelling the IAF into the realm of modern aerial warfare, during both the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and 1956 Suez Crisis. Disbanded in early 1957, 69 Squadron reformed in 1969 to fly the F-4 Phantom II.
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Hatzerim Airbase is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base on the northern edge of the Negev desert in the Southern District of Israel, 6 km west of Beersheba, near kibbutz Hatzerim. Apart from operational fighter jets, it houses the IAF Flight Academy, the IAF Aerobatic Team and the IAF Museum.
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The Elbit Hermes 450 is an Israeli medium-sized multi-payload unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for tactical long endurance missions. It has an endurance of over 20 hours, with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance and communications relay. Payload options include electro-optical/infrared sensors, communications and electronic intelligence, synthetic-aperture radar/ground-moving target indication, electronic warfare, and hyperspectral sensors.
The 161 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Black SnakeSquadron, operates Elbit Hermes 450 UAVs. It is based at Palmachim airbase.
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